Mobile mammography brings latest breast cancer screening tech to remote communities

Women in rural Alberta now have access to potentially life-saving breast cancer screening units. CTV News Edmonton's Amanda Anderson has the story.

Albertans in rural and Indigenous communities will soon have access to advanced breast cancer screening technology in their own communities – with the unveiling of two brand-new mobile units on Monday.

The trailers equipped with “state-of-the-art” mammography technology replace older units that were in service in the province for more than 10 years, according to the Alberta Cancer Foundation.

“The most important thing about these units is it comes to where people live, so it actually increases access and equity for people all over the province, which then increases the chance that you can catch (cancer) early,” Megan Thomson with the Alberta Cancer Foundation said, standing in front of the new trailers at D&D Dixy Trucking in Edmonton.

Thomson said the mobile program has screened more than half-a-million Albertans since it began in 1991. She added that breast cancer is the most diagnosed cancer in women in the province, and the trailers are equipped with “more advanced equipment” that are smaller, more comfortable during screening and that can detect cancer at higher rates.

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Mary Mueller lives in Dapp, Alta. – a small hamlet north of Westlock – and has done her mammograms exclusively with the mobile program for the past decade. She said the screening is fast and convenient, and the appointments take about 10 minutes to complete.

“I know many people that have been detected with breast cancer through the mobile, so it’s very important that you go and get your regular checkup,” Mueller said, adding that some Albertans would have to drive up to eight hours to get to a clinic in Edmonton.

“It’s great to have these trailers come to our community versus driving to the city.”

Joan Hauber is the manager of the Screen Test program with Primary Care Alberta, who has helped the units get designed and built. She said the two mobiles travel to 120 communities in rural Alberta. Each unit consists of a driver from their partner, D&D Dixy Trucking, and two mammography technologists who do the actual screenings.

“There (are) a lot of people who live outside of the big centres … so we bring the service to them,” Hauber told CTV News Edmonton. “It just makes it easier and (a) better chance that they’ll actually have the mammograms done.”

She noted that the decal around the trailers, which pictures the mountains and blue sky, is meant to bring comfort to patients, too.

“The wrap is very bright and cheery, and I think it kind of eases people’s fears because mammography and breast cancer is scary.”

The program is working toward providing 3D mammography on the mobile units. The Alberta Cancer Foundation said they are still fundraising and hope to raise $1.2-million for the new trailers.

Donations can be made online.

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Evan Klippenstein