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A Saskatchewan woman is sounding the alarm over lengthy mammogram wait times after being told she would have to wait more than a year to reschedule an appointment.
Cathy Sapergia said she had to reschedule a mammogram appointment and was told the next available appointment was in November of 2027, which is especially concerning given her family history of cancer.
“I just gasped on the phone,” she said. “I was absolutely shocked.”
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Sapergia said some women are already waiting months, or even a year for screenings.
“As a working person in this province, I would like to think that my province would look after me,” she said.
NDP MLA Jacqueline Roy said she has heard about this situation repeatedly from women and said the province’s claim of one-week to two-week mammogram wait times is misleading.
Roy said women are often waiting that long to receive a booking call before facing additional waits of months, or even a year, for an appointment.
“Women deserve honesty and transparency,” she said.
Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill said most screening mammogram appointments are booked within one to two weeks in the province, although Regina is booking into February 2027.
“I can’t remember the Saskatoon numbers off the top of my head, but certainly we’ve seen improvements, but there’s more work to do,” Cockrill said.
Cockrill said there have been significant reductions in biopsy wait times, and noted that over the last three years, more than $15 million has been spent on breast health initiatives in Saskatoon.
“This is a very important issue for the women in Saskatchewan and their families as well,” he said.
Cockrill said the province still has an agreement to send patients to Calgary for appointments to help reduce wait times.
“It’s really about optionality for patients,” he said.
