Brandon 1st to get digital mammography in Manitoba

Manitoba is bringing in digital mammography.

Health Minister Sharon Blady says it will reduce diagnostic wait time and bring new technology to detect breast cancer.

With digital mammography, images are viewed on a workstation monitor and stored electronically rather than transferred to film.

Blady says images captured in one region will be available to radiologists working in another, helping speed up turnaround times and diagnoses that may lead to faster treatment if needed.

"It's a major improvement in system efficiency that will benefitManitobans,"said Dr. SriNavaratnam, president and CEOofCancerCareManitoba.

Brandon Regional Hospital will get the new technology in September, while Blady says others will get theirs between October and April 2016.

Breast cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer among women in Manitoba with almost 900 diagnosed each year.

About 90,000 Manitobans have a mammogram every year. Approximately 50,000 are screening mammograms through the CancerCare Manitoba's BreastCheck program.

"Digital mammography is a significant advancement in our technology for the detection of breast cancer," said Dr. Sri Navaratnam, president and chief executive officer, CancerCare Manitoba.