Released on June 17, 1999
Health Minister Pat Atkinson today announced that recent evidenceshows Saskatchewan's Breast Cancer Screening Program is saving lives.
According to recently released Health Canada Statistics for the period
1984-1996, Saskatchewan has the lowest mortality rate due to breast
cancer in the country at 27 per 100,000 compared to the national
average of 30 per 100,000.
"We are catching breast cancer early and treating it early in this
province," Atkinson said. "I personally want to tell women in their
50s and 60s that our screening program is there for you and that you
need to be screened for breast cancer on a regular basis."
Health Canada's Cancer Update confirms that a high number of
Saskatchewan women are screened. According to the data 81 per cent of
Saskatchewan women between 50-69 years of age had mammograms. This
was second only to Alberta at 82 per cent.
Women participating in the screening program are typically screened
every two years. Women who are deemed to be at higher risk of
developing breast cancer, for instance those who have a family history
of breast cancer, are screened annually.
The high participation rate in the breast screening program is in
part due to the fact that the program is available across the
province and that women are directly invited and later re-invited
if they have not participated.
Saskatchewan's Breast Cancer Screening Program receives annual
funding of $2,376,000.
"This latest evidence is good news and I believe we need to do
more," Atkinson said. "That's why we announced in this year's
budget further improvements to the services provided. We have
committed to a new breast cancer assessment initiative that will
focus on quick and complete service for women requiring follow-up
diagnosis and treatment."
Saskatchewan's breast cancer screening program is currently
offered from centres in Regina and Saskatoon, one mobile unit and
satellite centres in Moose Jaw, Swift Current, North Battleford,
Yorkton and Prince Albert.
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For more information, contact:
Jeff Brown
Communications Branch
Saskatchewan Health
Regina
Phone: (306) 787-4088