The North Bay Regional Health Centre is again holding its Mammothon Breast Screening Challenge on Wednesday at the hospital.
Natalie Kohlsmith who is organizing the marathon and is the radiation technologist, says this is the 11th year for the cancer fighting event.
Kohlsmith says a mammogram is the best screening test to detect early signs of breast cancer.
She says the equipment is so precise it can detect evidence of the disease even if a woman is showing no signs or symptoms of breast cancer.
Statistics show breast cancer is the most common diagnosed cancer among Canadian women.
“But if we detect it early, there’s less chance it will spread and can be treated successfully,” Kohlsmith said.
“Fewer woman are dying today from breast cancer because of early detection and improved treatments.”
Despite this, Kohlsmith notes there are women who put off receiving a mammogram.
She says the reasons vary from fear to embarrassment but most times it’s because women lead busy lives.
“Women are usually caring for someone else that they tend to put themselves last,” she said.
“Most women know that a mammogram is important, they just need to make the time to get it done.”
The North Bay event is one of seven going on around Northern Ontario.
Similar Mammothons are scheduled for Sturgeon Falls, Timiskaming, Kirkland Lake, Hearst and two sites in Sudbury.
Kohlsmith says the number of participants in North Bay who show up for a screening varies each year, but the long term trend points to an ongoing rise.
She said in 2017, 93 women had a mammogram and for 49 of them in this group, this was their first ever screening.
In 2016, of the 98 women who had a screening, 73 were first time participants.
“We’re hoping to see 100 new participants this year,” Kohlsmith says.
The mammogram only takes 15 minutes and no doctor’s referral is needed.
Kohlsmith says it’s just a matter of walking through the hospital entrance and following the pink paw prints to the Ontario Breast Screening department.
As an incentive, she says the hospital will validate your parking ticket.
Wednesday’s event is for women aged 50 to 74 who have never had a mammogram or are overdue for a screening.
The screenings are available from 7:00am to 7:00pm.
