Mobile mammograms to make annual stop in Bow Island

By Justin Seward
Commentator/Courier

Alberta Health Services (AHS) will be making its 21st annual mammography screening stop to the Bow Island Health Centre in mid-April.
AHS will be bringing its mobile trailer and parking on the west side of the health centre and is encouraging women from the ages of 50 to 74 to come and get a screened mammogram if they have not had one in the last year.
“Approximately five per cent of women who come to see us are going to have an abnormal result,” said Joan Hauer, AHS manager for screen testing. “That means that there’s just something there that needs to be looked at. It doesn’t mean a woman has cancer. It just means that there might be something a little different.”
The process takes a half an hour and the results will be mailed to the patient within 10 days.
When AHS was getting their mammogram trailer on the road, Bow Island was one of the recommended sites when partnering with health officials in the area.
“The main one being accessibility to an existing mammography site,” she said.
“And so really what the mobile site is to provide access to women who might find it difficult to drive to a larger community to have a mammogram done.”
There has been around 70 ladies come every time the screening has been available in the town and 88 appointments are available over the three days this year.
Screenings are from April 11-13 and appointments can be made by calling 1-800-667-0604.

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