Cornwall Ontario – October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the Eastern Ontario Health Unit (EOHU), in partnership with Cancer Care Ontario, is inviting eligible women to “Just Book It” by scheduling their mammogram appointments.

The Ontario Breast Screening Program (OBSP) found that women aged 50 to 54 make up the largest number of screen-eligible women who have not yet had a mammogram.

“Early detection of breast cancer through mammogram screenings means there’s a better chance of treating it successfully,” said Dr. Linda Rabeneck, Vice-President, Prevention and Cancer Control at Cancer Care Ontario. “In 2015, an estimated 9800 Ontario women were diagnosed with breast cancer and approximately 1900 women died of the disease. That’s why we are inviting eligible women to start screening sooner rather than later.”

“Breast cancer occurs primarily in women 50 to 74 years of age, so now is the time for women on the younger end of this age range, from 50 to 54, to not only start thinking about screening for breast cancer, but to start booking their regular mammograms,” says Lysanne Trudeau, Program Manager, Early Detection of Cancer at the EOHU.

A mammogram is an X-ray of the breast that is used for screening. A mammogram is administered by a registered medical radiation technologist, and involves a plastic plate that is slowly pressed down to flatten the breast and hold it in place for a few seconds. The patient will feel some pressure on the breast, but this pressure will not harm breast tissue. Mammograms are free of charge to Ontario women who are eligible to be screened.