Breast Imaging Kingston hosted a Girls Night Out Thursday to help women overcome anxiety about mammograms and encourage breast cancer screenings.
The event welcomed women, Two-Spirit, trans and non-binary individuals aged 40 and older to get their first scan, along with games, snacks and prizes.
The inspiration behind the event was to bring people together in a playful way to become educated on breast cancer and the mammogram process.
Dr. Doris Jabs, the Rose of Hope Clinical Chair in Breast Health, along with staff at BIK, were available to provide information on breast cancer, screenings and how to be proactive with your health.
“It’s not a purely educational event; it’s more an event that’s supposed to be playful, that’s supposed to be lighthearted,” said Jabs.
Although staff supply women with information about what to expect during a mammogram, the goal of the GNOs is to provide women with a stress-free environment.
In an interview with YGK News, Jabs offered advice to women who worry about their scan results.
“What we can do is we can find it when it’s early (breast cancer), and we actually have the best chance of curing that disease as opposed to not finding it until it’s more advanced later down the road, and then the story becomes a little bit different,” said Jabs.
According to a study by the Hologic Global Women’s Health Index, only 15 per cent of women in Canada received a breast scan in 2025.
Crystal Leung, a senior technologist at BIK, described some of the ways she alleviates her patients’ worries during breast scans.
“Talking to them beforehand, talking to them like a normal human being…Explain step by step what we’re doing; that way they know what to expect,” said Leung.
During the event, the technologists can do up to 40 scans. Patients could book ahead of time by calling the clinic or walk in if there was availability.
People who attended the GNO event were greeted by staff who offered goody bags, refreshments and a photography station.
Games and goody bags were offered at the event (YGK News/Meaghan Beavis).
Dana MacPhail, manager at BIK, worked behind the scenes to organize the activities and experiences.
“Initially we had some brainstorming sessions…We really focused on things that target the age of sort of 40 to 50 would enjoy,” said MacPhail.
In 2024, the province of Ontario increased access to breast cancer screening by lowering the age for screening from 50 to 40.
MacPhail expressed what she hopes for the future of Girls Night Out events.
“For me, what I would like to see is more women coming in with their daughters, who are not of age yet but getting them used to the idea that this is something that you have to do…it makes sense that we would start including them in these types of activities,” said MacPhail.
Although the next event has not been determined, staff at BIK hopes to host more GNOs to promote breast health for women in Kingston.
