Increased OBSP Services for Kenora

Women age 50 and over in the Kenora area now have increased access to organized breast cancer screening services through the Ontario Breast Screening Program (OBSP).

The OBSP currently delivers services through 137 screening sites and 27 breast assessment sites across the province. Northwestern Ontario has five OBSP affiliate sites: three in Thunder Bay, one in Fort Frances and now at Lake of the Woods District Hospital in Kenora. Northwestern Ontario also has a mobile breast screening coach that travels throughout the region.

“We are thrilled to have Lake of the Woods District Hospital on board as an OBSP affiliate site,” said Alison McMullen, Director of Preventive Oncology for Regional Cancer Care at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre. “As an organized program, the OBSP makes screening easily accessible. Women with or without a family physician can be screened through the OBSP. They can book their own appointments and are reminded by letter when they are due for their next appointment.”

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in Ontario women. Since the OBSP started screening women for breast cancer in 1990, it has provided more than 2.6 million screens to over 900,000 Ontario women age 50 and over and has detected over 13,000 cancers, the majority in early cancer stages. Early detection means that most women have more treatment options, reduced chance of cancer recurrence, and improved chance of survival.

“Our provincial target by 2010 is to have 70 per cent of eligible women in Ontario having regular mammograms,” said Dr. Verna Mai, Director, Screening, Cancer Care Ontario. “OBSP sites give all eligible women access to the best quality breast screening care.”

“I am very pleased that our affiliation with the OBSP is finally a reality. We have been providing mammography for 21 years and the affiliation will allow more women to be screened in our area,” said Angela Schussler, Manager of Diagnostic Imaging, Lake of the Woods District Hospital.

The OBSP Northwest has some of the highest recruitment and retention rates in the province. However, just over half of all screen-eligible women age 50 and over in Northwestern Ontario are participating in the program.

“Our goal in Kenora would be to screen 100 per cent of local women between the ages of 50-69. This sounds impossible, but with the added program and the resources it brings, we certainly hope we can come close to making this happen,” said Dr. Rowena Lass, Primary Care Physician.

Woman in Northwestern Ontario age 50 and over can make their own appointment with the OBSP by calling 1-800-461-7031.

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