BC Cancer Agency, Northern Health and other health authorities have fast-tracked the Screening Mammography Program to save more lives of women with breast problems.
B.C. physicians now have automatic access to a fast-track program designed to cut waiting time to less than half between an abnormal mammography result and further investigation.
Although the SMP is geared to those women not known to have any breast problems, statistics show that 7.2 per cent of mammograms results are abnormal.
Andy Coldman, BCCA vice-president of population oncology, said the expectation is to save 100 lives in this fiscal year through the SMP.
Fast Track referral system will reduce the average time between the screening result and further testing to 1.1 week from the past average of 2.4 weeks.
"We expect to do 300,000 screenings in 2010 from which seven per cent or 20,000 are expected to be abnormal."
The SMP has been "streamlined" for faster diagnosis following the screening, said Coldman.
When a result is abnormal the screening centre will immediately set up further testing within a week, if possible.
In the past the screening results went back to the family doctor for a referral for further testing.
"We've eliminated that step to speed up the process," said Coldman.
The fast track program has been around for eight years during which time general physicians had to enroll in the program. Now all doctors and SMP participants will automatically have access to the Fast Track program.
"We know that early detection saves lives, and this new program ensuring a speedy turnaround for people with screenings that are abnormal is a tremendous asset," said Ida Chong, Minister of Healthy Living and Sport.
BC Cancer Agency statistics for 2009 show there was 2,972 new cases of breast cancer in B.C including 158 in Northern Health. In the same year there was 622 breast cancer deaths in B.C. including 34 in Northern Health.
--btrick@pgcitizen
