B.C. Cancer Agency expands digital mammography service for rural women

The B.C. Cancer Agency has upgraded two coaches fromits mobile fleet to offer digitalmammography servicesfor women in rural and remote communities in the province.

The agency says thedigital upgrade provides more efficient services by using secure, wireless networks to send images for analysis. The coaches have also been upgraded to offer a more comfortable, private service for women.

• First digital mammography vehicle rolls out in Victoria

The two coaches were blessed by elders from the MusqueamFirst Nationon Monday morning.

"[The blessing] helps with some of the healing that will occur in these vehicles and will increase the acceptance of them in their community," said Janette Sam, operations director of the BC Cancer Agency's mobile mammography program.

The coaches will provide breast cancer screening for women at theMusqueamFirst Nation, as well as communities from Maple Ridge toMerritt, andOsoyoosto the Soda Creek First Nation.

The province announced the first vehicle last February to reach rural areas on Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands.

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer for Canadian women, according to the agency.

It recommendsmammograms for women 40 years and older, every two years. The service is free.