mammothon-

By Stew Kernan

This Wednesday, May 4th is Mammothon…a one day breast screening challenge here in Sudbury and across Ontario.

Women, who are overdue or have never been screened for breast cancer, are encouraged to take part.

The goal is to screen 1,000 women in a single day.

The screening challenge began here in Sudbury in 2007, has spread to nine sites across the northeast and over 45 across the province.

Nicole Gauthier is the Prevention and Screening Coordinator at the Northeast Cancer Centre….she says a mammogram remains the best way to detect breast cancer early and leads to better treatment success and a greater chance of long-term survival.

In Ontario, breast cancer is the most common cancer in women and the second-leading cause of cancer deaths in females.

Eight out of ten breast cancers are found in women 50 years of age and over. In 2015, an estimated 9,800 Ontario women were diagnosed with breast cancer and approximately 1,900 women died from the disease.

Research shows that regular screening of women aged 50 to 74 can reduce mortality, yet only 60% of Ontario women aged 50 to 74 were screened in 2011-2012.

For more information go to www.mammothon.ca