Saskatchewan breast cancer screening now aided by second mobile unit

A second mobile mammography unit will offer breast cancer screening to 42 rural and northern Saskatchewan communities yearly. Damian Smith reports.

The Government of Saskatchewan has unveiled its second mobile mammography unit, in an effort to expand access to breast cancer screening to those in remote areas.

The unit, which the province says features “a state-of-the-art digital mammography machine and new furnishings” was unveiled in Regina on Wednesday. The announcement follows the launch of the first enhanced mammography unit in January.

• New mobile breast cancer screening unit coming to northern and rural Sask. communities

“In a 12 hour day, we can see 50 to 54 women every single day,” said Minister of Health Jeremy Cockrill. “So, you think about what that does in terms of improving access for women in rural Saskatchewan. It’s a massive impact.”

The pair of mobile screening units are expected to visit 42 rural and northern communities annually. Each unit is projected to screen approximately 6,000 to 7,500 patients each year.

According to the Saskatchewan Health Authority, each appointment will take around 10 minutes.

“The technologist will explain the exam, take a brief medical history, and really work to make sure the patient feels comfortable and knows what to expect,” said Richard Dagenais, the executive director of medical imaging with the SHA.

“Normally one of our technologists will be completing an exam while the other person is completing that sort of first registration step, then they’ll go to the very back where the machine is and they’ll receive their mammogram.”

David Tran, the director of population health for the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency, said it’s important to emphasize routine regular screening as part of the program.

“So, go in for your screening every two years or annually for your family history, 75 per cent of cancers detected at an earlier stage means better treatment options for survival,” he said.

According to the province, the Cancer Foundation of Saskatchewan dedicated $5.2 million toward provincial breast screening enhancement campaign. The funding provided $2 million for the first mammography trailer and equipment, $2.2 million for the second unit and $1 million for the purchase and installation of new digital mammography machines for screening sites in Regina and Saskatoon.

The province is providing more than $475,000 annually to support the operation of both units.

The Canadian Cancer Society reports that breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer among women and the second leading cause of death from cancer in women living in Canada.

One in eight women in Canada will develop breast cancer in their lifetime.

This is the third mammography unit in the province’s history, with the first one starting in the early 2000’s. That unit is no longer in service.

“It’s bigger, it’s more comfortable, it’s brighter,” Dagenais said. “The older unit, because of its age, we weren’t able to maintain lake water service. Just being able to wash your hands and do some of that cleaning, it’s a night and day improvement.”

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According to Cockrill, both units will be able to reach a total of 15,000 women.

“We really encourage any healthy woman to get your breast screening mammogram every two years when you turn 40,” said Nora Yeates, the CEO of the Cancer Foundation of Saskatchewan. “Starting July 1st, you can get your screening mammogram. It’s so important that women have access and can take their own health into their own hands and make that decision themselves without having to wait for a referral from a doctor.”

As of Jan. 2, 2026, women aged 43 years and older are eligible for screening. Most healthy women with no symptoms should receive a screening mammogram every two years.