Mobile screening units for breast cancer get an upgrade

By Lethbridge Herald on September 24, 2025.

Joe Manio
Lethbridge Herald
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

In Alberta, one in seven women are expected to develop breast cancer in their lifetime. Early detection of breast cancer is crucial because it dramatically improves survival rates and allows for less aggressive and more effective treatments.

Breast cancer screening is now being performed in two brand-new mobile units for women in rural and Indigenous communities across Alberta.

“Breast cancer remains the second leading cause of cancer death among women, but the chances of survival continue to improve due in part to breast cancer screening programs,” says Wendy Beauchesne, CEO of the Alberta Cancer Foundation. 

When breast cancer is found early, it is often small and hasn’t spread, making it easier to cure and potentially avoiding treatments like chemotherapy, radiation, or a mastectomy. 

Key early detection methods include regular screening tests such as mammograms, clinical breast exams, and self-awareness of changes in your breasts; being familiar with the typical look and feel of your breasts and reporting any new or unusual changes, such as lumps, pain, or skin changes, to your doctor.

Since 1991, this vital service has performed over 500,000 mammograms in Alberta, detecting thousands of potential cancers. It serves over 120 rural and Indigenous communities across the province each year.

“Improving access to screening in rural and remote areas through these mobile units means more Albertans are getting screened and more cancer is being discovered early, a direct result of the compassionate support from our donors.”

These units replace aging trailers that had served the province for more than a decade. The new units, which are equipped with state-of-the-art mammography technology, offer greater comfort, accessibility and space, helping to ensure more Albertans can undergo breast cancer screening in their own communities.

The units are being funded through the Alberta Cancer Foundation, including partnerships with the Grande Prairie Regional Health Foundation and Northern Lights Health Foundation. 

They are managed by Screen Test, a provincial screening service provided by Primary Care Alberta. Screen Test aims to increase the number of women, aged 45 to 74, who receive regular breast cancer screening.

“Primary Care Alberta is grateful for the Alberta Cancer Foundation’s support of our mobile mammography service,” says Kim Simmonds, CEO of Primary Care Alberta. 

“Getting screened regularly is the best way to find breast cancer early, when treatment has the greatest impact. These mobile units ensure that screening is available to women in rural and remote communities across the province.”

Research into breast cancer treatments is ongoing and shows promising progress, focusing on personalized, targeted therapies like PARP inhibitors and cellular immunotherapies, as well as new techniques for early detection and diagnosis. 

While a definitive cure for all breast cancer has not yet been found, the field is advancing with innovative strategies aimed at improving outcomes, reducing recurrence, and offering more treatment options for patients. 

Fundraising for the new mobile screening units is also ongoing. Donations can be made by contacting the Alberta Cancer Foundation.

To learn more about Screen Test and to see the schedule of the mobile units through the remainder of 2025, visit screeningforlife.ca/breast.