Women of all ages should be ‘breast aware’

Summer is also the ideal time to book overdue medical appointments, like mammograms

Summer is here, and for many of us it means taking some well-earned vacation time to relax, enjoy the sunshine and catch up on chores pushed aside by our normally busy lives. Summer is also the ideal time to book overdue medical appointments, like mammograms.

The Ontario Breast Screening Program (OBSP) is a provincewide program that provides mammograms for women ages 50 to 74, every two years, as part of a healthy lifestyle. There are 26 OBSP screening sites across the region, covering Hamilton, Burlington, Niagara, Brant, Haldimand and Norfolk.

There are also eight OBSP assessment sites where women can have additional tests completed if recommended by the radiologist who reads their screening mammogram.

The OBSP was started in 1990 and has detected more than 35,000 breast cancers in Ontario women since that time, most of which were in the early stages. It offers access to high-quality mammograms at sites accredited by the Canadian Association of Radiologists. Women receive invitations in the mail to participate in screening when they turn 50 and a reminder letter when it’s time to return for their next screening mammogram. The OBSP notifies participants and their family doctor or nurse practitioner of screening results. It also tracks participants through the screening process and helps set up extra tests or referrals if results suggest they’re needed.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in Ontario women, with one in eight women being diagnosed in their lifetime. Regular breast screening is important because it can find cancer early, when it may be smaller, less likely to have spread and easier to treat. Most women diagnosed with breast cancer are between the ages of 50 to 74, which is why the OBSP targets this age group for routine screening. We encourage women to start screening with the OBSP as soon as they turn 50, and continue with routine mammograms every two years. Some women have additional risk factors, such as a family history of breast cancer, and may be invited back by the OBSP every year for screening. Regular participation in screening reduces the chance of missing a breast cancer.

Mammography is the best way to screen for breast cancer. Yet in our region, only 63 per cent of eligible women ages 50 to 74 get screened. That’s close to the provincial average of 65 per cent. If you’re in that age group, and are due or overdue, we urge you to give about 30 minutes of your time this summer to catch-up through the OBSP. The goal is for at least 70 per cent of eligible women ages 50 to 74 in this region, and in Ontario overall, to have a mammogram every two years as part of their routine medical care.

Staying up-to-date is easy. Eligible women receive a reminder letter from the OBSP when it’s time to book their next appointment. If you’ve received your reminder letter, and haven’t booked yet, NOW’s the perfect time to pick up the phone. You can book your own appointment by calling the OBSP directly. If you haven’t received a letter, but think that you are due or overdue, you can call the OBSP and ask them to look up the date of your last screening mammogram. You can also go through your family doctor or nurse practitioner.

If you had your last screening mammogram at the Chedoke OBSP site (that moved locations in 2016), you will now be scheduled at the CIBC Breast Assessment Centre, located at the Juravinski Hospital and Cancer Centre. This site offers extended hours including select evenings and weekends and assistance with transportation if needed. You can book your appointment there by calling 905-389-0101.

Talk with your health care provider today about getting screened. A healthy lifestyle, including limiting alcohol, can also reduce the risk of breast cancer. Other factors that may lower a woman’s chance of getting breast cancer are not smoking or using tobacco products, having a healthy body weight and being physically fit. All women — regardless of age or risk factors — should also be breast aware. This means knowing how your breasts normally look and feel so you can tell if there are changes.

For a complete list of OBSP locations in our region, please visit hnhbscreenforlife.ca or call 1-800-668-9304.