Leah Palmer, early detection manager with the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency, explains some of the equipment inside their breast screening bus to media on Oct. 3, 2022. (Libby Giesbrecht/650 CKOM)

By Derek Craddock

BREAST CANCER BUS FUNDRAISER

Fundraiser for mobile mammogram bus critical to patients in northern Saskatchewan

Oct 5, 2022 | 1:00 PM

A new fundraiser has been launched to replace a bus that has helped more than 250,000 women across the province since 2002.

The Cancer Foundation of Saskatchewan is hoping to fundraise $2 million by March 31 for a new bus.

According to Cancer Foundation CEO Nora Yeates, the existing bus regularly breaks down. It has been off the road already for the past four weeks — though it is scheduled to be in Meadow Lake for about a month.

Yeates added that the bus has hard-to-source parts which is making it difficult to repair, is drafty and cold in the winter, is tight for space, and has worn furnishings.

Laurie Pearce with the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency, which operates the bus said they have a fixed schedule where they travel to some communities on even number years, and others in odd number years. For 2022, they hope to visit many communities in northern Saskatchewan.

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“The service is the same, the equipment is the same on the bus as it would be at a brick-and-mortar location,” said Pearce. “This unit was purchased in 2002 so in the last 20 years we’ve provided over 250,000 mammograms on that bus but it’s reaching end of life.”

She said having this mobile service is crucial, especially for woman who can’t travel to places like Saskatoon for screening.

“They’re very appreciative of not having to travel many hours to obtain that service that those of us who live in the urban sites, it’s quite convenient for us.”

Pearce added the farthest north they take the bus is La Loche where they will be in a couple of weeks. They will also be travelling to places like Beauval, Ile-la-Crosse, and Buffalo Narrows

The fundraiser is taking place during Breast Cancer Awareness Month as agencies across the country stress the importance of breast cancer research and early detection.

–With files from 650 CKOM

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Derek.craddock@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @PA_Craddock