Mobile mammography service coming to Revelstoke

A mobile mammography service is coming to Revelstoke Monday, March 24 to Saturday, March 29. One of BC Cancer’s three modified coach vehicles equipped with x-ray mammography equipment will be located at Revelstoke Senior Citizens’ Association’s Connaught Street location for BC residents to access via appointment.

While appointments are limited and filling up fast for the medical service, Rableen Nagra, BC Cancer operation director of breast and lung screening encourages anyone who might suspect they need screening to connect with their care provider and with BC Cancer about booking an appointment.

“Because everyone’s unique, and everyone has their own risk factors, we do encourage participants with breast tissue to consider breast screening depending on their risk factors,” Nagra told Revelstoke Mountaineer. 

There are certain demographics at a higher risk of developing breast cancer who are encouraged to book an appointment. Women aged 40 to 74, including women who have been on gender-affirming estrogen therapy for more than five years, who have a first-degree relative (parent, child, sibling) with breast cancer are encouraged to screen every two years.

The 15-minute appointment includes intake questions, four x-ray images and then time for more questions from the patient if needed. Results are shared with registered providers such as family doctors, nurse practitioners and naturopaths. Residents who reach out to BC Cancer to ask about booking can note if they lack a current care provider and staff will work to connect them with a virtual care provider or local walk-in clinic that can assess results.

“We do understand this is one of the bottlenecks or barriers that comes with not having a provider, so we do our due diligence,” Nagra said.

The mobile mammography service performs about 10 per cent of all screenings in B.C. and visits more than 170 rural communities, including more than 40 First Nations communities annually. With all appointments being booked a majority of the time and waitlists forming, Nagra sees a resource that’s highly appreciated and also desperately underserviced.

“We’ll constantly work towards increasing access and increasing the number of days,” Nagra said. 

But staffing hours and availability, along with funding for the project is the main limiting factor. 

Currently BC Cancer is able to visit Revelstoke twice a year for mobile mammography screening. Providing that resource for a community that doesn’t have screening available in town helps catch those who can’t travel outside of Revelstoke for screening or who might need a gentle nudge from trusted community members to access the program.

“It’s always helpful if there’s a screening opportunity coming to your community that makes you feel that your needs are being met,” Nagra said.
To see if you qualify for an appointment or to be added to a future screening, contact 1-800-663-9203 or speak with your care provider. Medical transport resources are available.