Breast cancer survivors and supporters unite to fund advance diagnostic tools.
An important fundraiser focused on the need for advanced technology focusing on early breast cancer detection and life-saving care.
The Nurse Next Door Walk for Hope celebrated survivors and provided support for those still fighting the fight, while encouraging both women and men to take charge of their health.
It has been proven that with early detection and better tool, survival rates increase dramatically.
Money raised from this year’s walk will help support the purchase of AI-powered mammography software for the North Bay Regional Health Centre. This advanced technology enhances early detection, improves diagnostic accuracy, reduces false positives, and delivers faster results—ultimately saving more lives across the region.
The specialized software will integrate with the existing mammography machines.
“When individuals are coming in for their mammographs, it will through technology and algorithms, help identify areas where there could be a suspicion of a lesion developing,” explained Kendra Clarke Director of Philanthropy at North Bay Regional Health Centre Foundation.
Clarke says the software is especially beneficial given that everyone’s breast tissue density is different.
“Through these algorithms and through this AI technology, it will help filter and identify areas of special interest, especially when dealing with denser breast tissue which is especially common in younger women as well,” Clarke noted.
“So, it is pretty impactful and will help identify areas sooner; pre-cancerous lesions, cancerous lesions, and help people get to that next step of care quicker.”
The cost of the software addition to the hospital’s mammography machines is $60,000.
The machines themselves were upgraded within the past few years, purchased with the help of community donations.
The goal is to have the AI technology installed within the next fiscal year.
“Again, it depends on how fundraising goes, but the goal is to get this done and operating hopefully by our hospital’s next fiscal year which would be April 1st, 2026,” noted Clarke.
Early detection for both women and men is essential when it comes to saving lives.
“It is just an added layer of sensitivity with using technology to just push that advanced technology a little bit more. So much stuff is computerized and medical equipment now, and those enhancements are really important in just having better images for our incredible diagnostic imaging team, out techs and the radiologists to just be able to see better and get those answers sooner.”
Debbie Ball was diagnosed with breast cancer in October 2017.
Prior to the walk, she shared her personal journey, emphasizing the importance of listening to your body, and taking charge of your own health.
“You can’t give up on listening to your body. My granddaughter was the one who hit the lump, I felt it right away just to make sure there was nothing wrong. You have to stay on top of yourself where I hadn’t been,” Ball shared.
After some delays in getting her diagnosis, it was confirmed that she did in fact have breast cancer.
“I had stage 3c, just about stage four. It is two lymph nodes shy of stage 4.”
The grandmother believes she would have benefited from the AI software.
“It would have made the world to me to be able to find it with earlier detection because I went for my mammograms when I was told, and then life happened, and I got busy and I didn’t check. My little granddaughter just bobbled her head against me the one day, and I found it.”
Ball was treated with a combination of therapies; 20 rounds of chemotherapy, four weeks of radiation, and surgery.
“I’m doing very, very well now. I am cancer free, and I have a couple more years to say I’m a survivor.”
The goal is to have the AI technology installed next year.
“Again, it depends on how fundraising goes, but the goal is to get this done and operating hopefully by our hospital’s next fiscal year which would be April 1st, 2026,” noted Clarke.
Bringing hope to so many facing breast cancer.
Tonya Raymond Nurse Next Door owner-operator explains the work the agency does in the community.
“Nurse Next Door is a private home care company that provides nursing, PSW and companionship services to our seniors in the community, helping them stay in their homes as long and as safely as possible. “