Newmarket resident Melanie Bell got quite a shock for Halloween last year.
She was diagnosed with breast cancer after chest pains prompted her doctor to set up a mammogram. The 49-year-old quickly went into treatment, starting radiation right before Christmas last year.
But Bell’s cancer was detected early at Stage 1. After many rounds of radiation and treatment at Southlake, she said her doctor told her there was no trace of cancer this September.
“The emotional, mental and physical aspect of being diagnosed, going through this journey, is quite taxing,” she said, adding things could have been different “if I hadn’t listened to my body and said something to my doctor about changes that I had been experiencing.”
Southlake Regional Health Centre is welcoming news Ontario is lowering the age for regular, funded mammograms from 50 to 40. The change going into effect fall 2024 will allow more women to make self-referrals for publicly funded mammograms through the Ontario Breast Screening Program, as opposed to requiring a doctor referral.
Southlake Central Regional Cancer Program director Lorrie Reynolds said detecting breast cancer cancer at an early stage one can create a nearly 100 per cent survival rate, which can drop quickly the later cancer is discovered.
“Lowering the screening age helps identify breast cancer at its earliest stage, providing more treatment options and better outcomes for women across the province,” Reynolds said. “We believe this change will empower more women, especially those with a family history or genetic predisposition, to access screenings earlier, enhancing their chances of detecting and managing breast cancer.”
Southlake itself conducts about 9,000 mammograms per year, she added.
“We make every effort to ensure that those that are above the age of 50 are allowed access,” she said.
Bell has become an ambassador for Southlake and expressed appreciation for the level of care she received.
“The teams at Southlake were fantastic to deal with,” she said, adding that “it was great to have Southlake close to home so I wasn’t having to travel very far.”
Bell expressed approval for Ontario lowering the age of self-referred mammograms.
“It’s about time."
Both Reynolds and Bell recommended that women take advantage and get screened
“As women, we need to advocate for ourselves,” Bell said. “We need to take care of our bodies. It’s very important to get checked.”
