Women ages 40 and older are now eligible for free breast cancer screening through the Ontario Breast Screening Program
This Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Southlake is proud to add three state-of-the-art mammography machines to help more women detect breast cancer earlier. Thanks to generous community donor support, most recently through the Women’s Health Initiative campaign, Southlake is able to expand breast cancer screening to 1,500 more women annually, with more than 11,700 screened so far in 2024.
“The new mammography machines will help Southlake meet the growing demand for breast cancer screenings and diagnostics, with the best technology available,” said Lorrie Reynolds, Director, Regional Cancer Program at Southlake. “By increasing our capacity and making mammograms more accessible, we’re helping more women access leading edge care, close to home.”
On average, 84 Canadian women are diagnosed with breast cancer every day, making it one of the most common cancers affecting women. The addition of three new mammography machines will ensure more women have timely access to important diagnostic services. Two of the new machines also have biopsy capabilities that reduce the amount of time needed to complete a mammogram and improve detection and diagnostics capabilities.
As of October 8, 2024, Southlake also offers publicly funded mammograms to women ages 40 to 49 through the Ontario Breast Screening Program (OBSP). All women ages 40 and older can self-refer for a mammogram and are encouraged to talk to their healthcare provider about whether screening is right for them. Mammogram appointments can be scheduled by calling Southlake’s Patient Scheduling Department at 905-895-4521 ext. 2665, or the main OBSP booking line at 1-800-668-9304.
“We know that early detection can lead to better patient outcomes,” said Ellen Speight, Director, Laboratory and Diagnostic Imaging at Southlake. “We’re already seeing the impact these new machines are having on women in our communities.”
The World Health Organization anticipates a 77 per cent increase in cancer diagnoses by 2050. Southlake serves some of the fastest growing communities in Canada and anticipates that the number of patients requiring cancer care will grow. The new mammography machines are part of Southlake’s commitment to deliver leading edge care, close to home, with advanced technologies that support better patient care and outcomes. These investments were funded with support from community donors who generously gave to Southlake to support investments into women’s health at the hospital.
“The generosity of our donor community and the impact they have made for women receiving a cancer diagnosis and treatment at Southlake is something we can all take great pride in,” said Jennifer Ritter, President and CEO of Southlake Foundation. “Thank you, to every donor who contributed to these critical upgrades, ensuring women in our community can be confident that they are receiving leading edge cancer care, close to home when they need it most.”
To continue to advance cancer care at Southlake, Southlake Foundation’s HERE is Where Cancer Meets its Match campaign supports the Stronach Regional Cancer Centre at Southlake. For more information or to make a donation, visit: southlake.ca/HERE.
