Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I was visited yesterday by Meril Faulkner, a friend and a constituent of mine. A few years ago Meril was diagnosed with breast cancer. Fortunately, the tumour was detected early and Meril was treated successfully. Yesterday she told me of two of her friends who were less fortunate. One died from this awful
disease and the other is undergoing painful chemotherapy. As some of you may know, the Canadian Cancer Society has declared October breast cancer month. That is why Meril stopped by my office. She wanted to talk about the steps the Government of Canada and the Northwest Territories have taken to ensure people are informed and have access to programs designed to detect cancers before they become life-threatening.
Mr. Speaker, I am sorry to report that the NWT has been slow to respond to federal initiatives to launch screening and information programs and campaigns. We have the stationary mammography clinic at the Stanton Regional Hospital. Residents of the western Arctic make appointments when they travel to Yellowknife. This arrangement looks okay on paper, but Meril raised a good question when she asked how many people know they can, can not, or should make use of this service.
A brief look at some statistics suggests the message is not getting out to the people who need to know. For example, records show that Dene and Metis women make far less use of the mammography clinic than non-native women.
Mr. Speaker, 82 northern women were diagnosed with breast cancer between 1980 and 1993. Thirty-three have died. We may not be able to do much to prevent the incidents of breast cancer, however, I agree with Meril when she says we can do a lot to prevent deaths from breast cancer. Screening is the key. In Saskatchewan, doctors have a portable mammography unit. They use it to run screening clinics in the province's remote aboriginal communities. We may not have the money to buy such a machine right now, but we do have the ability to ensure northerners are aware of the important role screening and regular examinations play in early diagnosis and successful treatment of breast cancer. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.