Women, it's Breast Cancer Awareness Month, you know what to do: Southlake

A patient undergoes a mammogram to detect early signs of breast cancer. (AFP)

On average, 84 Canadian women are diagnosed with breast cancer every day.

During Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Southlake is proud to announce it has added three state-of-the-art new mammography machines to help more women detect breast cancer earlier.

Southlake is expanding 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."

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The addition of three new mammography machines will ensure more Ontario 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, 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..

"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, which serves some of the fastest growing communities in Canada, anticipates that the number of patients requiring cancer care will grow.

The new mammography machines are part of Southlake’s commitment to care close to home, with advanced technologies. 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 the 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," Ritter said.

Mammogram appointments can be scheduled by calling Southlake’s OBSP at 905-895-4521 ext. 6228, or the main OBSP booking line at 1-800-668-9304.