Blanche River Health (BRH) is proud to participate in Mammothon 2025, a regional initiative designed to encourage eligible women to prioritize their breast health. On June 25, BRH’s Kirkland Lake site, part of the Ontario Breast Screening Program (OBSP), will dedicate a special day to providing mammograms for women aged 50-74.

This initiative is made possible thanks to BRH’s state-of-the-art mammography machine, replaced in 2021. The funding for this critical upgrade was committed by Kirkland Lake Gold and honoured by Agnico Eagle following their acquisition of the company in 2022. Their generous support ensures BRH can offer top-quality diagnostic services to the community.

Breast cancer continues to be the most common cancer diagnosed in Canadian women and the third leading cause of cancer deaths, after lung cancer and colorectal cancer. However, fewer Canadian women are dying from breast cancer today than in the past. Breast cancer deaths have decreased by more than 40 percent due to earlier detection through breast screening and improved treatments.

“Mammograms are a critical tool in catching breast cancer early,” said Pam Gregoire, Diagnostic Imaging Manager at BRH. “This day provides a chance for many women in our communities to take an important step toward protecting their health.”

Why This Matters to Our Communities

For residents of Englehart, Kirkland Lake, and the surrounding areas mammograms are conducted at the Kirkland Lake BRH site, ensuring that local women can access these vital services without traveling far from home.

“The mammogram is the most effective screening tool we have for detecting breast cancer early,” says Natalie Brissette, Senior Technologist-MRT in Diagnostic Imaging at BRH. “It can detect cancer before any symptoms appear, which is why it’s so important for eligible individuals to get screened regularly. Early detection means better treatment outcomes, and the Mammothon is a great way to make that happen for as many people as possible.”

People ages 40-49 are also eligible for breast screening and are encouraged to have a conversation with their primary care provider to help decide if screening is right for them. People without a primary care provider can call or visit Health811 for more information.

People may put off having a mammogram for all kinds of reasons; fear of the test and time constraints are among them, but the Mammothon has proved to be a powerful motivator. The campaign aims to address common barriers to breast screening through information, education and convenient screening hours. Mammothon attendance figures over the past decade have clearly demonstrated that women respond to the challenge to screen as many women ages 50-74, who have never been screened, in a single day. 

“This year, 9 sites will be participating across the North East – an incredible reflection of how successful Mammothon has been over the past 10+ years,” says Steven Blakely, Cancer Screening Manager at the North East Regional Cancer Program. “Each site brings its own unique touch to the event, tailoring it to the needs of their community and creating a strong, unified effort toward increasing screening participation.”

Details About the Event

• Who: Women aged 50-74 who have never been screened
• What: Dedicated mammogram appointments
• When: June 25, 2025, 8:30 am – 4:00 pm
• Where: Kirkland Lake, Blanche River Health site
• Why: To detect breast cancer early and save lives

For information about Mammothon or to book an appointment, contact Blanche River Health at 1-866-274-7774 or the Ontario Breast Screening Program at 1-800-668-9304.

For more information about the Ontario Breast Screening Program and the benefits of early detection visit hsnsudbury.ca/cancerscreening.

About Blanche River Health

Blanche River Health (BRH) is a 69-bed hospital corporation with two sites serving the North Eastern Ontario communities of Englehart (21 beds) and Kirkland Lake (48 beds) as well as residents in surrounding areas. Our mission is to make health care work for you. 

BRH values people and continuous improvement and we demonstrate this through accountability, respect, and courage to excel. 

Please direct media inquiries to: Communications and Public Relations

1-866-274-7774 ext. 2144 | communications@blancheriverhealth.ca