‘Just Book It’ this October

Five Minutes Is All It Takes to Book a Mammogram

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Cancer Care Ontario, in partnership with its Regional Cancer Programs, is inviting eligible women to ‘Just Book It’ by scheduling a mammogram appointment. Breast cancer screening is available for women aged 50 to 74, but the 50 to 54 age group has the largest number of screen-eligible women who have not yet had a mammogram.

“Early detection of breast cancer through mammogram screenings means there’s a better chance of treating it successfully,” said Dr. Linda Rabeneck, Vice-President, Prevention and Cancer Control at Cancer Care Ontario. “In 2015, an estimated 9,800 Ontario women were diagnosed with breast cancer and approximately 1,900 women died of the disease. That’s why we are inviting eligible women to start screening sooner rather than later.”

Are you eligible for a mammogram? Here’s why you should ‘Just Book It’ today:

1. Breast cancer is the most common cancer in Ontario women with 1 in 8 women expected to be diagnosed with the disease in their lifetime.
2. The average mammogram screening takes 5 minutes to book.
3. Breast cancer has one of the highest survival rates when compared to other cancers.
4. Mammograms are still one of the best and most reliable ways to detect breast cancer early on.
5. The Ontario Breast Screening Program (OBSP) offers important advantages for women, including appropriate and timely follow-up of abnormal findings and ongoing quality monitoring and management.

A mammogram is an X-ray of the breast that is used for screening. In 2014, Cancer Care Ontario began sending letters to eligible women inviting them to book their mammogram. After their initial mammogram, eligible women will continue to receive letters from Cancer Care Ontario to remind them when they are due back for their next screening.

The following groups of women are eligible for a mammogram through the OBSP:

• Women aged 50 to 74 years who are at average risk for breast cancer. Women are considered eligible for the average risk program if they show no acute breast cancer symptoms, have no personal history of breast cancer, and do not have breast implants. It is recommended that eligible women in this age group should get screened every 2 years.
• Women aged 30 to 69 years who are identified as being at high risk for breast cancer. Starting at age 30, women who may be at high risk for breast cancer can be referred by their healthcare provider to the OBSP High Risk Screening Program based on their family or medical history.

Eligible women are encouraged to book a mammogram at any time by calling 1-800-668-9304. No referral from a doctor is required. More information can be found at www.cancercare.on.ca/justbookit.

Follow Cancer Care Ontario on Twitter and Facebook and join the conversation using the hashtag #JustBookIt.