North Bay Regional Health Centre
News Release
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During a 12 hour window on Monday May 5th, the Ontario Breast Screening Program (OBSP) at the North Bay Regional Health Centre (NBRHC) will be looking to screen as many women as possible who are over 50 years old and have never been screened before.
North Bay is one of ten sites in northern Ontario participating in the 50 Over Fifty OBSP Challenge, a friendly competition that encourages women to be proactive about breast health.
Women in North Bay are welcome to be screened from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. without an appointment.
With a focus on women 50 and over who have never been screened, the objective of the 50 Over Fifty OBSP Challenge is to provide a convenient window of opportunity for busy women to overcome the barriers that have prevented them from attending breast screening in the past.
Each site will set out to screen 50 women over fifty years of age, taking on other sites to see which community of motivated women can reach their goal first.
“North Bay started this event back in 2007 and the friendly spirit of cooperation has grown every year since.” says Sue Mitchell, NBRHC Acting Manager, Diagnostic Imaging.
“This year we are welcoming Sault Ste. Marie’s Group Health Centre and Kirkland Lake District Hospital to the challenge which means more northern women can take advantage of this one day special event.”
Early detection is the best protection! Breast cancer screening can find cancer at an earlier stage and result in better health outcomes.
There are still many women who would benefit from regular breast screening and the 50 Over Fifty OBSP Challenge aims to bring that message home. Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women and the second leading cause of cancer deaths in females.
Eight out of ten breast cancers are found in women 50 years of age or over. An estimated 9,300 women were diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013.
“There is something about the festive nature of the day, the convenience of a walk in appointment and the spirit of friendly competition that motivates women who have never been screened before to participate in the event and make their health a priority,” Mitchell explains. “The past success of this event demonstrates that this unique approach works.”
To learn more about the 50 Over Fifty OBSP Challenge visit www.nbrhc.on.ca or follow us on Twitter using @NBRHC. You can also like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/nbrhc.
To learn more about breast cancer screening, visit www.Ontario.ca/screenforlife, and complete the “Time to Screen” tool.
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