Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to focus on what unfortunately continues to be a recurring health problem that affects far too many women in Hay River. Mr. Speaker, the health problem that I am referring to is the large number of women in Hay River who suffer from the ravaging effects of breast cancer. I am pleased to report, Mr. Speaker, that a number of women have gone on to beat this insidious form of cancer, but we have had to bury far too many women in Hay River as a result of breast cancer.
Mr. Speaker, while I was compiling research on the subject of breast cancer, I came across some very alarming statistics. In 2003, an estimated 21,200 women in Canada will be diagnosed with breast cancer, and 5,300 women will die of this disease. On average, 407 Canadian women will be diagnosed with breast cancer every week, and 102 Canadian women will die of breast cancer every week. In addition, breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in Canada in women today.
Mr. Speaker, I know from speaking to a number of Hay River women that the incidence of breast cancer amongst the Hay River women appears to be alarmingly high. I know of women in Hay River, Mr. Speaker, whose breast cancer went undetected for over a year. In this day and age that should not be allowed to happen, Mr. Speaker. Early detection of breast cancer is key to being able to successfully diagnose and treat this disease.
Mr. Speaker, I believe that it is imperative given the high incidence of breast cancer among women in Hay River, that a mammogram machine be placed in Hay River. In this way, early detection could take place for women throughout the South Slave region.
Mr. Speaker, the point was raised to me by a constituent of mine who is a breast cancer survivor. She stated that the cost to the Department of Health and Social Services for flying her back and forth from Hay River to Edmonton for her cancer treatments could have gone a long way towards paying for a mammography machine in Hay River. Mr. Speaker, we, as elected representatives, are very much aware of our fiscal situation in the Northwest Territories. However, I don't think that you can put a price on saving a life, as this machine would most certainly do. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
---Applause