New $2M fundraising campaign launched for Sask. screening bus in fight against breast cancer

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A new fundraising campaign is underway to ensure that women in even the most remote parts of Saskatchewan have access to screening mammograms for breast cancer.

The Cancer Foundation of Saskatchewan and the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency on Monday announced a $2-million fundraising campaign to replace the current breast cancer screening bus. The organizations have set a fundraising target of March 31, 2023.

The current bus, which was purchased in 2002, has facilitated more than 250,000 screening mammograms in the past two decades during its travels to remote and rural communities across Saskatchewan. The program has been in place since 1990.

“The screening mammogram is such an important, and potentially life-saving, exam,” Cancer Foundation of Saskatchewan CEO Nora Yeates said.

“When cancer is caught early, there can be more treatment options and better outcomes. We know that early detection saves lives.”

According to the two organizations, an estimated 760 Saskatchewan women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2022, and 170 will die from the disease. Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer in women and the second-leading cause of deaths.

“A new mammography bus will allow us to continue to reach populations in rural and surrounding communities to improve breast cancer outcomes,” Saskatchewan Cancer Agency interim president-CEO Deb Bulych said.

The program provides screening to Saskatchewan woman 50 years of age and older, who don’t have symptoms of breast cancer, who do not have breast implants, who aren’t on active follow-up for breast cancer and who have been cancer-free for five years.

Screening programs are currently in place at permanent locations in Saskatoon and Regina, Lloydminster, Moose Jaw, North Battleford, Prince Albert, Swift Current and Yorkton.

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