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Ontario’s Breast Screening Program Submitted b y Irene Maurer The facts about breast cancer Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in women 1 out of 10 women in Ontario will develop breast cancer as women get older, their chance of getting breast cancer increases studies show that deaths from breast cancer are reduced, by up to 40% in women 50 and older, by an organized screening program the Ontario Breast Screening Pro- gram will save more than 300 lives each year by recruiting at least 70% of Ontario women 50 years and older to the program Who is eligible for screening? women who are 50-69 years old; if you wish to continue with screening after 69, please let us know you may be referred by your family doctor, or refer yourself directly studies show an organized breast screening program is not beneficial for women under age 50; these women are advised to consult their family doctor What is breast screening? physical examination of the breasts information on breast self-examina- tion screening mammography is a special xâ€"ray of the breast to find cancer in its earliest stages, even before you feel a lump or any symptoms What does physical examination in- volve? a nurse examiner will do a physical examination of your breasts and answer any questions you may have about screening physical examinations are important because a small number of breast cancers cannot be seen even on the best quality xâ€"ray 12 H 3: C October. November, December 1991 How is a breast x-ray done? a breast xâ€"ray involves placing the breast between plastic plates and apâ€" plying some pressure to flatten the breast to get a clear x-ray picture Will it hurt? some women may feel a little dis- comfort for a few seconds “ Ifyou think it hurts to have a mammogram, let me tell you about having a breast removed. It hurts. It really hurts." Betty Thompson Breast Cancer Patient Is mammography safe? modern mammography equipment uses very low doses of radiation; you would take the same amount of risk by smoking 3/4 of one cigarette in a lifetime the benefits of being screened for breast cancer far outweigh any risk of harm from the xâ€"ray What happens after the screening visit? a nine out of ten women will have nor- mal findings; 3 letter is sent to both the woman and her family doctor with the results women with abnormal results are referred to their family doctor or an assessment centre for additional in- vestigation How often should a woman be screened? you should come for screening every two years from the age of 50 to 69 if you find anything unusual with your breasts at any time, you should contact your family doctor immedi- ately; do not wait until your next appointment at the screening centre [5 there a charge for screening? - no, there is no charge for this servic - the Breast Screening Program is a ; early detection program of the On tario CancerTreatment and Researc | Foundation, which is funded by th Province of Ontario For information on the Ontari Breast Screening Centre nearest you call: Hamilton- (416)389-0101 Kingston» (613)384-4284 or LEGO-4618850 London- (519)432-0255 or 1â€"800-461~0640 North York- (416)-512-0601 Ottawa- (613)728-0777 or 1‘800-465-6226 Scarborough~ (416)298â€"2626 Sudbury- (705)675-2283 or 1300-6451-8897 Thunder Bay- (807)343-1610 Toronto- (416)928-1379 Windsor- (519)253-0903 Eventually, there will be ap proximately 36 screening centres acros Ontario, and mobile screening units i the Northern areas, The Hamilto Breast Screening Centre opened June 1 1991. Seven cancers were found in th first 1,000 women screened. Getting the message to the women 0 Ontario that this service is available i the major challenge currently facing th Breast Screening Program. After read ing this, let others know around y0u your family, friends, neighbours, othe organizations. DO IT! PHONE NOW. Merle Kisby, Health Promotion Co ordinator from the Ontario Breas Screening Program, would be happy t address your group. Contact him - (416)423-4240, or Irene Maurer - (519)846-0207, for more information Irene Maurer is the Guelph Area Brest dent of the Federated Women '3 Institut of Ontario and is a member of the outart' Breast Screening Program Provmcr Coalition.