Alberta Health Services – Screen Test brings breast cancer screening to women across Alberta with its mobile mammography clinics.
Screen Test is coming to McLennan on August 9 – 13, 2018.
Why should I get a screening mammo- gram?
A screening mam- mogram is a special X-ray of your breast.
Once you’re over 50, it is the best way to find breast cancer early.
Screening mammograms can help find breast cancer when it is very small, 2-3 years before you or your doctor can feel it.
The earlier breast cancer is found the better treatment can be.
In fact most women (about 90%) are now surviving breast cancer 5 years after diagnosis.
Who should get a screening mammo- gram?
Women 50 and over should plan to have a mammogram every 2 years and may self-refer.
Women 40-49 should discuss the risks and benefits of screening with their doctor, and require a referral for their first appointment.
There is no cost for this service.
For more information visit:
www.screeningforlife.ca/screentest.
Here are some common myths and facts about breast cancer screening:
Myth #1: Breast cancer isn’t very common.
In fact, 1 in 8 Alberta women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime.
Myth #2: Only women with a family history of breast cancer will get it.
The truth is, 80% of women who develop breast cancer have no family history. So it’s important to understand that you are still at risk for breast cancer even if no one in your family has ever had the disease.
Myth #3: Regular mammograms can’t find small tumours any sooner than women could find them themselves.
Screening mammograms can find small tumours about 2-3 years before they can be felt. That’s why screening is so important — it can find cancer before it has a chance to become more serious.
Myth #4: Having a mammogram can cause breast cancer or can cause an already existing cancer to spread.
Mammograms use a very small dose of radiation.
Research confirms that the risk of harm from radiation from mammography is very low.
The benefits of finding and treating breast cancer early far outweigh the risk of the small dose of radiation.
Myth #5: There is nothing a woman can do to lower her risk of developing breast cancer.
While it’s true that there are some things you can’t control, there are some things you can do:
·Physical Activity – Be physically active throughout your life and exercise every day.
·Weight – Try to reach or stay at a healthy body weight. This becomes even more important after menopause.
·Alcohol – Limit the amount of alcohol you drink to no more than one drink per day.
·Smoking – Don’t smoke and avoid second-hand smoke. If you’re currently a smoker, talk to your healthcare provider about options for quitting or cutting back.
You can also get support at Albertaquits.ca or call 1-866-710- QUIT.
·Long-term Hormone Replacement Therapies (HRT) – Limit using the combination of estrogen and progestin menopausal hormone replacement therapy to no more than 5 years; long-term use (beyond 5 years) increases a woman’s risk of breast cancer.
But within 2 years of stopping, a woman’s risk of breast cancer returns to average.