Tom Henihan
Express Staff
The Alberta Breast Cancer Screening Program (ABCSP) will be at the Sacred Heart Community Health Centre in McLennan on Friday, Monday and Tuesday, July 15, 18 and 19.
In Alberta, women 50 to 74 years old are automatically included in the Breast Cancer Screening Program. It is strongly advised that women over fifty have a mammogram every two years.
When a woman turns 50 without having had a screening mammogram they automatically receive a letter informing them of the importance of screening at that age and encourages them to get breast cancer screening.
Breast screening is considered the best way of diagnosing breast cancer early when treatment is most effective and the objective of the ABCSP is to provide women throughout the province with access to screening.
Alberta Health Services offers screening mammograms at only two permanent locations in Edmonton and Calgary but to provide the service to women around the province the ABCSP has two mobile breast cancer screening units that travel to approximately 100 communities in rural Alberta.
It is necessary to make an appointment prior to visiting the screen test mobile unit when it comes to McLennan in mid-July. To schedule an appointment call: 1800-667-0604.
A doctor’s referral is not required for women 50 and over but women 40 to fifty do need a referral. The test results will be sent by mail to a client’s home address or family doctor between two to three weeks after testing.
The screening unit is accessible by stairs so for those with concerns or who may need assistance it is recommended that they provide that information when scheduling an appointment.