Breast cancer screening options across Saskatchewan will expand in early 2026 with the addition of a new mobile mammography unit, increasing access for patients in rural and northern communities while supplementing existing screening centres, including Lloydminster.
The new mobile unit is scheduled to begin service on Jan. 5, 2026, and will travel to 42 communities across the province, screening up to 7,500 patients each year. The unit replaces a previous mammography bus that had been in service for more than 20 years and provided over 250,000 mammograms.
Health officials say the mobile unit will set up at host locations for several weeks at a time, typically at facilities comparable in size to regional hospitals or community centres, before moving on to the next stop. Mobile units currently deliver nearly one-third of Saskatchewan’s screening mammograms each year.
In addition to the mobile service, BreastCheck operates permanent screening centres in Regina and Saskatoon, as well as satellite screening centres in Moose Jaw, Swift Current, Yorkton, North Battleford, Prince Albert and Lloydminster.
Lloydminster’s screening centre operates under the Saskatchewan Health Authority, and residents from both sides of the Alberta-Saskatchewan border routinely access health services in the city. Eligibility and booking are handled through the BreastCheck program, and a health-care provider’s referral is not required to book a screening mammogram.
Earlier this year, Saskatchewan expanded breast cancer screening eligibility to women aged 45 and older. The province is working toward making screening available to women aged 40 and older by the end of July 2026.
Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among Canadian women and the second leading cause of cancer-related death. Health officials say screening through the BreastCheck program aims to detect cancer early, before symptoms develop. Approximately 75 per cent of breast cancers diagnosed through screening are early stage, with significantly improved treatment options and outcomes.
While mammograms are the primary screening tool, health professionals also encourage individuals to be familiar with their breasts and report changes such as new lumps, persistent pain, skin changes, nipple discharge or changes in shape to a health-care provider.
In Saskatchewan, the BreastCheck screening program is delivered collaboratively by the Saskatchewan Health Authority and the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency. Information about screening locations and booking appointments is available through the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency.
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