Hillary Doucet has had a diagnostic mammogram every year since she turned 40.
It’s something she’s grown accustomed to with her family history of breast cancer, but her routine appointment last year almost never happened.
“Last August, I got my annual call to tell me my mammogram was for December 2026. So, I made some calls and I ended up calling a complaint line regarding mammograms,” says Doucet.
“You have to advocate for yourself, which is a very unfortunate state of affairs in this province right now.”
She managed to get her mammogram moved up by one year.
That new appointment confirmed she had invasive stage two, grade two ductal carcinoma.
“I don’t think that women should have to wait well over a year to get a mammogram, especially when you’re presenting with a lump or something that is not right in your body. You know that it’s not right, and you need to be seen and you’re being told, ‘No, hurry up and wait.’
“The consequences of ‘hurry up and wait’ and not staffing these positions promptly can lead to death. That is the reality that we are facing right now as women in this province.”
Looking back, she can’t help but wonder what would’ve happened if she hadn’t pushed for an earlier appointment.
“Where would I be? Would it be stage four? It was stage two when they found it. So where would it be in December of 2026?”
N.S. health minister responds
Nova Scotia Health Minister Michelle Thompson couldn’t escape questions about long wait times for mammograms in the province.
At a cabinet meeting Thursday, Thompson defended the province’s efforts and says they are actively recruiting radiation technologists.
“We know there’s a shortage across the country and Nova Scotia is no different. It’s not that nothing has been done. We know that this is a very in-demand profession. We’ve been working at recruitment internationally and obviously domestically,” says Thompson.
She says there are 26 people currently studying the profession in Nova Scotia who are expected to graduate in 2027.
“Not only are we looking at recruitment, but we’re looking at growing our own workforce, as we’ve done with other professions. But we can’t speed that process up, “she says.
As for the long wait times, Thompson says they vary across the province.
“Last quarter wait times are posted on the wait time website so people can see in some places do have shorter wait times. We want people to have the care that they require in Nova Scotia, we’re working hard to make that happen.”
But that doesn’t satisfy people like Doucet, who felt forced to take matters into her own hands.
“Saying simply to trust the system does not fly with the public of Nova Scotia. We deserve much better than to trust the system,” says Doucet.
“When I look at my sister who had breast cancer in 2018, from the time she was diagnosed to her surgery, to her treatment, to her recovery was under five months. I am over five months in, and I have not met with my oncologist yet.
“A message to women is to be your own voice. Don’t take no for an answer. Make calls. Call the complaint line. Do everything that you can to advocate for yourself because your life is valuable. ”
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