MINISTER WELCOMES BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH WITH FUNDING INCREASE

VANCOUVER - A funding increase for the Screening Mammography Program of British Columbia and first-time funding for the Hereditary Cancer Program at the B.C. Cancer Agency were announced today by Health Minister Penny Priddy to launch Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

"We don't yet know how to prevent breast cancer, but we do know that finding it early gives women the best chance for long-term survival and cure," said Priddy. "This increase in funding will go a long way in making sure every women in this province has access to screening mammography."

This year, the Ministry of Health has increased the screening mammography program's budget to over $10.77 million to expand services from 202,000 to 240,000 screens. The extra screens will be provided through an increase in service at some existing sites and through expansion of the number of centres where screening mammograms will be available.

Several new screening mammography sites will be opened throughout the province in 1999-2000. New sites receiving mobile service for the first time include Bella Coola, Bella Bella, Alert Bay, Skidegate, Sooke and Saanichton. New year-round service sites that have opened in 1999-2000 include Quesnel, Williams Lake, Port Alberni, and three new sites in Vancouver (St. Paul's Hospital in the West End, the Fairmont Medical Building at 750 West Broadway in Central Vancouver and Greig and Associates at 41st and Victoria in East Vancouver). More screening mammography sites will be opened in the coming year.

Priddy also announced $439,000 in funding this year for a hereditary cancer program. The program offers genetic counselling and education to individuals with a strong family history of breast, ovarian or colon cancer. Such a history increases their risk of developing the same cancer. Participants must first be referred to the program by a physician and complete a detailed screening questionnaire.

"Testing for hereditary cancer genes offers individuals a choice," Priddy said. "By being tested, those who receive a positive gene test result can participate in more diligent cancer screening to promote early detection and possible prevention. On the other hand, others may learn that they have not inherited the family legacy of high cancer risk, which provides great relief as their risks of cancer then become the same as anyone else's in the general population."

"The hereditary cancer program and the screening mammography program each play a vital role in our efforts to reduce the number of deaths due to breast cancer and to relieve families of the burden of this disease," said Dr. Andy Coldman, cancer control strategies leader for the B.C. Cancer Agency. "Added funding for screening mammography and new funding for hereditary cancer testing will make a tremendous difference for the people of this province."

The screening mammography program and hereditary cancer testing are administered by the B.C. Cancer Agency. The agency has been operating the screening mammography program since 1988. The hereditary cancer program began in 1996.

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