Mobile mammogram clinic travels through B.C. Interior

Women in small communities throughout B.C. will have another chance to get screened for breast cancer this winter.

A mobile mammography clinicrun by the B.C. Cancer Agencyis making its way through the province. It's currently in Merritt until Jan. 27.

Around one in nine Canadian women will be diagnosed with breast cancer, according to the agency. Deaths from the disease are said tohave dropped 25 per centamong women who are screened on a regular basis.

Johnna Sparrow-Crawford found out she hadbreast cancer after visiting a mobile mammography truck three years ago.

"I felt like the earth moved under my feet," the 53-year-old said."You immediately feel like you're going to die. I was scared."

JohnnaSparrow-Crawford, who lives on the Musqueam reserve, said she's"beyond grateful" for the service.

"If I had not done what I did that day, I could be in a totally different situation today or maybe not even here."

Mobile service serves rural residents

JanetteSam,operations director of the agency's mobile mammography program, saysshe wants to get the word out that the service can save lives.

"It gives women the opportunity to get ahead of it, get on with their treatment of the cancer and then get back to living a normal, healthy life again," Sam says.

Dr. Duncan Ross, who works atthe Nicola Valley Medical Clinic in Merritt,agrees it's a great service.

Right now, Merritt residents have to travel to bigger centres like Kamloops, Kelowna or Vancouver to be screened.

Ross says he gives referrals for mammograms to patients every day, andhopes they will take advantage of the mobile service in town this week.

In total,three mobile clinicstravel throughout the province. After undergoing upgrades last spring, all three use digital mammogram technology rather than analog.

With files from Daybreak Kamloops.