A woman in central Newfoundland is frustrated that she is being denied breast cancer screening even though her doctor says she should have it.
"It's a test that could possibly save my life and it's very frustrating," said Jeanie Stokes, 32, of Lumsden in central Newfoundland.
Stokes is considered a high breast cancer risk because her mother and two aunts have died of the disease. She has a 50-year-old sister currently being treated for breast cancer.
Because of her risk factors, Stokes has been getting mammograms to screen for cancer since she was 25. Her most recent mammogram was last December in Gander, about 125 kilometres southwest of her home.
But this year, she has been denied the test, even though a doctor and a nurse practitioner have requested the screening three times.
The health authority says the provincial guidelines show Stokes isn't eligible for the screening until she's 40.
"One way or another, I'm getting that test done," said Stokes.
"I'm not waiting eight years."
Newfoundland and Labrador's provincial breast screening program offers mammography to all women in the province between the ages of 50 and 69. Stokes fears the only way she'll qualify for a mammogram is if she or a doctor finds a lump in her breast.
"To find something, and if it is cancer and you can feel it, I mean, it's late stages. That's not even sensible," said Stokes.
On Tuesday, a Central Health spokesperson said the regional health authority could not comment on Stokes' case, but indicated it would look into her concerns.
