Calling all women between the ages of 50 and 74, who are overdue for a mammogram or have never had one: the Central Regional Cancer Program (CRCP) is inviting you to participate in the 2019 Mammothon.
It’s a marathon of mammography, part of an outreach to promote regular breast screening and encourage women to be proactive about their health.
This year, there are at least 23 Ontario Breast Screening Program sites in York Region, North York and South Simcoe that are participating in the Mammothon, between May 13 and 18 – including Southlake Regional Health Centre in Newmarket, and Stevenson Memorial Hospital in Alliston.
“It’s going to be a fun event,” said Lisa Rhodenizer, co-ordination advisor of Health Promotion, Prevention and Screening with the CRCP. Some locations offer extended hours, decorations, refreshments, and even prizes for the participants.
But behind the fun and goofy name is a serious message.
“Women need to know to put themselves first,” said Rhodenizer. They need to take care of their own health, to be caregivers for their families; regular breast screening is part of that. Breast screening leads to the early detection of cancer, and early detection leads to better outcomes, she said.
So why do some women avoid having a mammogram?
“There are 100 different excuses,” said Dr. Rene Shumak, regional lead of breast screening with Cancer Care Ontario. The Top 3: fear of exposure to radiation; fear of the discomfort of compression which is part of the mammogram procedure; or simply the excuse that they are “too busy.”
Shumak dismisses all three.
For those who say they are too busy, there are now “so many places that are open and that have extended hours” that it’s possible to fit testing into any schedule, she said while urging women to call their local Ontario Breast Screening Program site to set up a time that is convenient.
As for the fear of radiation, Shumak pointed out the number of cancers that are found, and at an early stage, far outweighs the tiny risk of exposure.
“It’s just insignificant, not an issue at all,” she said.
The doctor acknowledged that the procedure can be uncomfortable. Current technology still requires the compression of the breasts for clarity of imaging.
“Truly, you get better imaging the thinner the breast is,” Shumak explained. “The better the imaging, the easier it is to get a diagnosis.”
That said, there are a number of factors that may “make it more painful,” she said.
Drinking coffee or other caffeinated drinks just before the procedure can result in increased tenderness, as can scheduling a mammogram immediately following a menstrual period.
Still worried? Try taking an Advil or Tylenol before the procedure, she suggested.
Mammograms “aren’t perfect, but they’re the best thing we’ve got,” Shumak said, noting it's far better than breast self-examination as a way to catch cancer early.
A recent study found that mortality rates were not reduced in women who practiced breast self-examination. Only a mammogram detected cancers early enough to have a positive impact; in fact, said Dr. Shumak, breast self-examination led to a larger number of false alarms, and unnecessary procedures.
“That doesn’t mean women shouldn’t know what their breasts are like,” she said.
Women should be aware and able to detect any changes, but “people shouldn’t get hung up on breast self-examination,” or rely on it to detect cancer in its early stages.
The recommendation is that women between the ages of 50 and 74 undergo a routine mammogram every two years, unless there are health or genetic factors that would suggest more frequent screening. In Canada, 83 per cent of breast cancer diagnoses are in women ages 50 and older.
The Mammothon had its start back in 2007, as “Fifty/50” at the Ontario Breast Screening Program Site in London, Ont. The goal was to screen 50 women over the age of 50 who had never had a mammogram, in a single day.
It was a concept that caught on – and spread.
In 2014, the Central Region Cancer Program introduced the Mammothon at six sites, and screened 235 women for breast cancer in a single day. By 2017, Central Region had 22 sites participating in the campaign, and had expanded the Mammothon into a week-long effort, screening 723 women.
This year, organizers are hoping to surpass those numbers and start a new trend, by encouraging women to see mammograms, not as something to worry about or avoid, but as a key to health.
Southlake Regional Health Centre is holding its Mammothon on May 15, at 596 Davis Dr. in Newmarket. Call 905-895-4521 ext. 2665 to book an appointment.
Bradford West Gwillimbury women can also participate at MyHealth Newmarket, in the York Medical Health Centre, 17730 Leslie St. in Newmarket. Call 1-888-251-9767 for more information.
Some women may also avoid a mammogram for fear of being diagnosed with cancer, which Shumak called it the “ostrich” approach.
Ignoring the possibility of cancer doesn’t save lives; early detection does, she said.
A mammogram can detect tumours when they are mere millimetres in size, she said – leading to better outcomes, survival, and recovery.
For more information on the Mammothon, see mammothon.ca.
