Not so bad

It didn’t hurt, the new president and CEO of the regional hospital said following her first mammogram Monday.

Andrée Robichaud, who took over as president and CEO of the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, received her first mammogram examination on Monday. Robichaud, who recently turned 50, decided to have her first exam as part of the Ontario Breast Screening program challenge.

OBSP aims to have 160 new clients in northwestern Ontario screened by the end of the day in part of its 20th anniversary celebration.

"I think prevention a very important aspect of health care," Robichaud said. "This is my first mammogram and I think I had the apprehension that every woman has but I can tell you I was pleasantly surprised. The exam didn’t hurt. You hear horror stories but it was great."

OBSP delivers services through 153 screening sites across the province including a mobile unit in northwestern Ontario and has provided more than 32,000 mammograms since the programs launch in 1992.

Alison McMullen, Director of preventative oncology, said all women 50 years of age or over can participate in the program and can drop in at several sites across the region in Thunder Bay, Kenora and Fort Frances. She added that the mobile coach will be at the Intercity Shopping Centre until 8 p.m.

"It is a great way to be concerned about you breast health and take action and be screened," McMullen said. "Women should look at their breasts every month or so and look for visible changes in the nipple the size and shape of the breast and feel for lumps."

McMullen added that women should wear shirts that button up at the front to make it easier for the examination.