1) What is the Breast Cancer Screening Program?
The NB Breast Cancer Screening Program is a population-based screening program with the purpose of finding cancers of the breast as early as possible.
The Program encourages average risk (asymptomatic) women between the ages of 50-74 to participate in routine screening mammography at one of the 14 screening mammography sites across the province.
The program is an active member of the National Breast Cancer Screening Network, under the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer.
2) How does the screening program work?
The NB Breast Cancer Screening Program is a population-based screening program offering breast screening services that are delivered by the two Regional Health Authorities as follows:
- Women residing in NB who are 50-74 years of age and have no signs, symptoms or previous diagnosis of breast cancer are encouraged to participate in breast cancer screening by contacting one of the screening sites to book a screening mammogram.
- Women age 40-49 or over 74 who have no signs, symptoms or previous diagnosis of breast cancer are accepted for screening mammography only by referral from their primary health-care provider.
- Routine screening is not recommended for women age 40 or younger.
- Screening mammography is the optimal tool for screening average risk women.
- Breast screening sites will invite eligible women to participate in the screening program and inform participants and their primary health-care providers (if not self referred) of screening test results.
- The Program has been screening women since 1996.
3) Where can I get breast screening?
Breast cancer screening services are provided at 14 sites in the province; 8 in the Horizon Health Network and 6 in the Vitalité Health Network distributed as follows:
The Horizon Health Network breast cancer screening sites are located in the:
- Katherine Wright Centre
- Sussex Health Centre
- St Joseph’s Hospital
- Charlotte County Hospital
- Oromocto Public Hospital
- Upper River Valley Hospital
- Hotel-Dieu of St.Joseph Hospital
- Miramichi Regional Hospital
The Vitalité Heatlh Network breast cancer screening sites are located in the:
- Dr. Georges-L-Dumont University Hospital Centre
- Grand Falls General Hospital
- Edmundston Regional Hospital
- Campbellton Regional Hospital
- Chaleur Regional Hospital
- Community Health Centre l’Enfant-Jésus
4) How often should I be screened?
Routine screening should be done every two to three years with mammography, if the results are normal.
Routine screening is not recommended for women age 40 or younger.
5) What if I do not want to be part of the program?
If you have questions, concerns or do not want to be part of the NB Breast Cancer Screening Program, call 1-844-777-3443 or the breast screening site where mammography was done.
By choosing to not participate, this means:
- you will not be invited by the program,
- you and your doctor will be responsible for all breast cancer screening.
6) What if I want to return to the program?
If you have questions, or if you want to re-join the program, please call 1-844-777-3443.
Remember screening saves lives!
7) How can I find out more about the program?
To learn more about the NB Breast Cancer Screening Program, please call 1-844-777-3443.