Breast-Screening Wait Times Down ... Accredited Sites Up

In the battle against breast cancer, there''s good news in two areas. Wait times for routine breast screening have dropped to below one month in Metro, down from more than six months a year ago. And the number of accredited mammography centres in Nova Scotia recently surpassed the national average.

"Wait times have been dramatically reduced by a well-timed investment that coincided with other improvements," Health Minister Jamie Muir said. "This is a perfect example of the significant gains that can be made in the delivery of health care by making the system more efficient without a significant funding increase."

A centralized booking system for the Nova Scotia Breast Screening Program and a navigation program have ensured that vacancies left by cancellations are promptly filled and that the diagnostic process moves quickly following the discovery of an abnormality. The Department of Health also contributed $94,850 to the Breast Screening Program last spring, enabling clinics to clear up the backlog of clients by extending their hours of operation.

"Money alone would not have solved these problems," Mr. Muir said. "What we''re seeing is a breast screening system that manages resources wisely while providing timely service when time is of the essence."

The announcement of two more accreditations in the past month - one at the Colchester Regional Hospital in Truro, the other at the Dartmouth General -- means more than 75 per cent of Nova Scotia''s mammography units now are accredited, compared with 70 per cent nationally.

Accreditation by the Canadian Association of Radiologists ensures breast screening clinics meet stringent quality standards. These comprehensive evaluations certify that doctors and other staff members are specially trained to perform and read breast x-rays; that their equipment and procedures are designed to provide high-quality mammograms with the lowest possible amount of radiation exposure; and that the least number of studies and tests are used to reach a diagnosis.

Nova Scotia has 13 mammography centres that operate a total of 17 units (mammography machines). Of those, 13 are accredited.

The goal is to have all facilities in the province accredited by the end of 2002.

"By providing the highest standards for breast screening services, and by reducing wait times, women have the best chance for early detection. That''s the best weapon we have in the battle against breast cancer," Mr. Muir said.

The rise in the number of women having regular mammograms in recent years is due to increased awareness about the importance of early detection. Mammograms can detect tumours too small to be felt by hand. More than 98 per cent of cancers detected through the Nova Scotia Breast Screening Program are too small to be felt with breast self-examinations.

All healthy women over 50 are urged to have mammograms every two years. Women of all ages should do regular breast self-examinations.