BARRHEAD- Barrhead women concerned about developing breast or cervical cancer will be able to get a mammogram or a pap test without going into the city.
Men and women will also get a chance to get screened for colorectal cancer through a FIT test, again, without leaving the community.
From May 6 to May 19 (excluding Sundays), Alberta Health Services’ (AHS) mobile mammography units, which are called Screen Test, will come to the W.R. Keir Continuing Care Centre. The cervical and colorectal cancer test appointments are being taken on May 10-12 and May 17-19.
The screenings for cervical cancer and colorectal cancers are a new addition to the Screen Test mobile mammogram clinics that have been travelling to rural communities since 1991.
"It is part of our [Integrated Access to Cancer Screening (IACS) Project] to help more Albertans get screened for these cancers," said Screen Test manager Joan Hauber.
As with any cancers, she said, the key to successful treatment is to detect it early when it is small and more treatment options are available.
"Hopefully, by making testing more accessible, we hope more Albertans will have those successful outcomes and need the least unobtrusive treatment," Hauber said.
According to the Alberta Cancer Foundation, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in Alberta. They estimate that one of six Alberta women will get breast cancer in their lifetime. The Canadian Cancer Society estimates that more than 27,000 were diagnosed with breast cancer in 2020. About 5,100 would have died from the disease.
Although the risk of developing breast cancer increases with age, starting at about years old, Hauber said, women from 50 years old to 74 years old are recommended to have regular mammogram screenings.
However, women from 40 to 49 may also get a mammogram done with a doctor’s referral.
For women who have had mammograms through Screen Test before, the process has changed slightly due to the pandemic, Hauber said.
“Clients do not immediately come on board the trailer when they get to the site," she said.
Instead, clients are asked to stay in their vehicles.
"A technologist will call them ahead of time and take their health history and when they are ready, they will be given another call and asked to come in," Hauber said.
Before entering the trailer, the client must sanitize their hands and put on a fresh mask which they will be provided. The mask must be worn the entire time they are on the Screen Test trailer.
The cervical cancer Papanicolaou (PAP) and colorectal cancer Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) tests will be at the Barrhead Community Health Services office in the Barrhead Provincial Building.
Colorectal cancer screening is recommended for men and women from 50 to 74 years old.
The first step of the screening is an interview with a nurse practitioner, after which they will be given a FIT test to take home.
"[The FIT test is a simple test, although some people might think it is a bit yucky," Hauber said, noting all people need to for the FIT test is to take a stool sample.
About 90 per cent of colorectal cancer cases, if detected early, can be treated successfully.
AHS recommends that women from 25 to 69 years old get screened for cervical cancer through the Papanicolaou or PAP tests.
PAP tests check the cells of the cervix for abnormal changes. If these changes are detected early enough, treatment can be devised to stop them before they become cancerous.
To book an appointment for any of the tests, call 1-800-667-0604. For more information about the mobile screening clinics, go to www.screeningforlife.ca.
