Oct. 21 is the Day of the Mammogram: Have you booked yours?

When was your last mammogram? As part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which takes place every October, Cancer Care Ontario has named Oct. 21 as the Provincial Day of the Mammogram. In Ontario, many breast cancer screening sites will be offering walk-in appointments for women ages 50 to 54, but across the country, we’re putting out the call for all at-risk women to book an appointment today!

If you’re deemed high risk, screening can start as early as age 30, but for most women, screening is most important between the ages of 50 and 74, according to Cancer Care Ontario. Health experts recommend that women who are considered average risk get screened every two years, but many of us don’t.

“Finding breast cancer early means there’s a better chance of treating it successfully,” says Dr. Linda Rabeneck, vice-president of prevention and cancer control at Cancer Care Ontario. A simple screening can save your life, and most people don’t realize how easy it is to get a mammogram. Here are some things to consider:

-To book an appointment takes just five minutes, and most mammograms take only 10 minutes.

-Breast cancer screenings are free and you don’t need a referral from your doctor to make an appointment.

-This year, about 25,000 women in Canada will be diagnosed with breast cancer.

–One in nine women are diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetimes.

So take five minutes and book your appointment. It could save your life.

Get the best advice on how to prevent breast cancer and find out what you need to know about dense breasts.