Women in the Foothills have the opportunity to have a mammogram without the hassle of heading into the city.

Alberta Health Services mobile mammography van is stationed at the Okotoks Recreation Centre on Friday for women who may find it difficult to make it to appointments far from their communities.

Harmon McRae, community coordinator for Screen Test, says getting mammograms is very important for a certain age group.

"In Alberta we recommend that women 50 and over be screened every two years... women 40-49 are also able to if they want but they need to speak to their health care provider and have a referral for their first mammogram."

McRae says screening mammography is the only test that can help to detect breast cancer early.

"Mammograms can actually find breast cancer two to three years before it's large enough to be felt by a woman or her doctor. When we find breast cancer in those early stages that's really ideal because that's when treatment options work so much better and screening mammograms are one of the reasons why most women are now surviving breast cancer."

About 90% of women are now able to survive breast cancer which is why they're encouraged to get mammograms as part of their regular health check-ups.

The mobile mammography service will be at the Okotoks Recreation Centre all day Friday from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and still has a few available appointments.

To book, call 1-800-667-0604.

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