Small northern Ont. town loses access to mobile cancer screening
A northern Ont. city councillor says she fears many women will go without the proper health care after town loses access to mobile cancer screening.
"In late February, I was informed that the Screen for Life coach was no longer coming to Wawa," Wawa town Counc. Cathy Cannon told CTVNewsNorthernOntario.ca in an online interview.
Undated photo of Screen For Life mobile cancer screening bus operated by Thunder Bay hospital and serving northwestern Ontario. (Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre)
"I had phoned and asked why we weren’t on the list this year and I talked to one of the people in Thunder Bay and he said we were no longer on the list but not only us, White River, Dubreuilville, Hornepayne and Chapleau were no longer on the list, they only go as far as Marathon."
The bus is based out of the Thunder Bay hospital 478 kilometres away and offers mammograms, pap tests and tests for colon cancer.
Cannon said it usually comes to her community of just more than 2,700 people twice a year in the summer.
"When you look at the numbers, we had over 200 people access that bus just last year alone, just in Wawa, so people are using the bus," she said.
"And to find out we weren’t given any warning, we weren’t given anything that they weren’t coming. So it’s like OK, what do we do from here?"
Cannon said she had a meeting with the hospital's CEO who said they could set up pop-up tests for cervical and colon cancer screenings, but mammograms are harder to do that way.
"We don’t have the machinery for it," she said she was told.
- Download the CTV News app now
- Get local breaking news alerts
- Daily newsletter with the top local stories emailed to your inbox
Without any alternatives, it would force the town residents to make the 278-kilometre trip to Sault Ste. Marie and be treated at the Group Health Centre, which is already facing its own patient issues.
From Wawa, the drive to the Sault is two-and-a-half hours each way and more than four hours each way by bus.
"My worry is that women aren’t going to do it, they’re not going to start travelling to go for a mammogram," she said.
"To me,, it’s like the north is forgotten. They’ve set up clinics all along the North Shore, but nothing in this area, so we’re again left out in the cold."
Cannon said the older generation is not going to want to make the drive, particularly down Highway 17, during the winter.
The Town of Marathon, while closer, is still a two-hour drive.
Finding an alternative
At a town council meeting Tuesday night, Cannon laid out a passionate plea for support from her colleagues to approach the Ontario Ministry of Health for other alternatives to the cancer screening service they are losing.
Her resolution received unanimous support.
"I know that Thunder Bay is not going to be able to come back here because the age for screening has been lowered to 40," Cannon said.
"They have picked up more patients in their own area and I’ve been told they only did this as a courtesy because we had no one covering this area. So, they’re not going to be able to do it because they’re busy on their own."
The town councillor said she’s been in touch with Algoma – Manitoulin MPP Mike Mantha’s office and she’s hopeful Queen’s Park will take the town's concerns seriously.
"Without the screening, more women are … I think the cancer rate will go up," she said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Judge in Trump's hush money trial threatened to throw witness out of court for behavior on stand
Michael Cohen testified Monday that he stole tens of thousands of dollars from his ex-boss Donald Trump’s company, an admission defence lawyers hope to use to undermine Cohen’s credibility.
What is BORG drinking, and why is it a dangerous trend? An expert explains
If you've been to a party lately and haven't seen someone drinking a BORG, you're likely not partying with college students.
The world's best airline is paying staff a bonus of 8 months' salary
Singapore Airlines will reward its employees with a bonus worth nearly eight months of salary, a person familiar with the matter told CNN on Friday.
Oilers win Game 7 over Canucks, advance to Western Conference Final
The Edmonton Oilers weathered a late Vancouver Canucks charge on Monday night, beating the hosts 3-2 to win their seven-game second-round playoff series in the decisive showdown.
McGill says pro-Palestinian protest outside senior administrator's home 'crosses the line'
McGill University has denounced a pro-Palestinian protest held Sunday outside the home of one of its senior administrators.
Red Lobster probes 'endless shrimp' losses after bankruptcy filing
U.S.-based restaurant chain Red Lobster has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in a Florida court after securing $100 million in financing commitments from its existing lenders, the company said on Sunday.
Katy Perry sings goodbye to 'American Idol'
Katy Perry said her goodbyes on 'American Idol' after seven seasons. On Sunday night’s live 'idol' season finale, a medley of Perry's hit songs were performed, including 'Teenage Dream,' 'Dark Horse' and 'California Gurls.'
Microsoft's AI chatbot will 'recall' everything you do on a PC
Microsoft wants laptop users to get so comfortable with its artificial intelligence chatbot that it will remember everything you're doing on your computer and help figure out what you want to do next.
Judge cites error, will reopen sentencing hearing for man who attacked Nancy Pelosi's husband
A federal judge will reopen the sentencing hearing for the man who broke into Nancy Pelosi's San Francisco home and bludgeoned her husband with a hammer after the judge failed to allow him to speak during his court appearance last week.