Latest news with #mammograms
CTV News
7 hours ago
- Health
- CTV News
Wawa organizes ‘Boob Bus' to fill gap in breast cancer screening
Residents in Wawa and surrounding communities are taking healthcare into their own hands after losing access to a mobile breast-cancer screening service that once regularly visited the area. Wawa The Wawa Goose is pictured in this undated file photo. (File photo/Supplied/Municipality of Wawa) Organizers have launched the 'Boob Bus,' a temporary solution to transport women to Sault Area Hospital for mammograms after Thunder Bay's screening bus – previously relied upon – was cancelled due to increased demand in that city. Last year, Wawa council appealed to the Ministry of Health for alternatives, leaving many women without local access to mammograms. With a new bus expected to take two to three years to secure, the province has provided funding to assist 30 women in getting screened this fall. A stopgap solution Cathy Cannon, a local councillor, explained the interim plan to CTV News. 'So in the meantime, with that money we've received, the funding – we will use it for renting a bus from Lacroix Bus Lines and taking the women there, as many as we can – this time it'll be 30,' she said. The Boob Bus will run on Oct. 2, offering free transportation from Wawa to Sault Area Hospital and back. The service is open to residents of Wawa, White River, Dubreuilville, Hawk Junction, Missanabie and Michipicoten First Nation. Logistics and appointments According to the Wawa Family Health Team, the bus will depart at 7:30 a.m. from 3 Chris Simon Drive in Wawa, returning from Sault Area Hospital at 4:30 p.m. 30 appointments are available, and interested individuals are encouraged to contact Katherine or Shelley at 705-856-1313 to reserve a seat. Organizers credited the Northeast Regional Cancer Program and Sault Area Hospital for their support in making the initiative possible; adding that while the Boob Bus is a temporary measure, it addresses an urgent need for accessible breast-cancer screening in the region until a permanent solution is established.
CTV News
13-06-2025
- Health
- CTV News
Health screening task force to re-launch next spring after report calls for reform
A radiologist uses a magnifying glass to check mammograms for breast cancer on May 6, 2010. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Damian Dovarganes OTTAWA — A panel of experts is calling on the Public Health Agency of Canada to modernize and reform the task force responsible for preventive health guidelines for things like cancer screening. The Task Force for Preventive Health Care provides clinical guidelines for family doctors about screening and prevention measures for cancer and other diseases. The federal government launched an expert review after the task force came under fire last spring for rejecting expert advice to lower the minimum age for mammograms from 50 to 40. Health Minister Marjorie Michel says she's asked the public health agency to work on the panel's recommendations and ensure the modernized task force is fully operational by next April. Then-health minister Mark Holland suspended the task force's work in early March while the review was underway. The expert report says the task force needs a clear mandate and should adopt a 'living guidelines' model that takes into account the latest research. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 13, 2025. Sarah Ritchie, The Canadian Press
Free Malaysia Today
16-05-2025
- Health
- Free Malaysia Today
No shame in checking for breast cancer, says Hasmah
Dr Hasmah Ali with surgeon Harjit Kaur (left) and consultant radiologist SR Sumithra, who helped her in her cancer journey. PETALING JAYA : Dr Hasmah Ali felt persistent pain for four days – and told no one – when accompanying her husband, Dr Mahathir Mohamad on a trip to Manila seven years ago. 'I thought, how could I tell him when he was so busy?' she said today during a sharing session titled 'A Cancer Survivor's Journey' at the Prince Court Medical Centre. She said she booked a check-up on returning to Malaysia, using a different name to avoid public attention. Two days later, she received the diagnosis: hormone-positive breast cancer, a 7mm tumour requiring swift medical intervention. 'The surgery was done on a Saturday, and by Sunday, I was home. I felt no pain afterwards, just relief that the tumour had been removed,' she said. Now 98 and cancer-free, Hasmah recounted her story to raise awareness, particularly about the importance of early detection and regular mammograms. 'Two things to note are shame and fear. Many women are reluctant to come forward because they feel embarrassed or are afraid of what they might hear,' she said. She pointed out that cultural stigma remains a major hurdle, with traditional beliefs and remedies often taking precedence over modern medical advice. 'Women still turn to bomohs. But that is not the way. We must seek treatment from medical professionals, not traditional remedies.' Older women still at risk Consultant breast and endocrine surgeon Dr Harjit Kaur said many women over 55 mistakenly believe that age reduces their risk, while some are deterred by the physical discomfort of mammograms. 'It is still a taboo topic; women in their 20s and 30s are getting breast cancer. So early detection is key, and they should get yearly ultrasounds as well,' she said. Resilience through routine Hasmah said the 48-hour wait for her test results was emotionally taxing. She credits her recovery to a disciplined lifestyle, and five years of hormonal therapy, with no complications. At nearly 100, she now plays the violin daily, a hobby she first took up at the age of 16. 'Don't push yourself too hard. Eat wisely, get enough rest, and keep your mind active,' she advised. She ended her session with a message to all Malaysian women: 'Don't be afraid or ashamed and go for your screenings.'
