Shortage of techs, pandemic backlog leads to long wait times for mammograms in Waterloo Region [Video]

Some in Waterloo Region are raising concerns about long wait times for routine mammograms, while those in the field admit they’re still dealing with a shortage of technologists.

Tracy Hobbs said she tried to book an appointment at a True North Imaging location in Waterloo a few years ago. It took several months to get a date, but the appointment was then cancelled due to the technologist being sick. She finally got it done five months later.

“I waited almost a year to get just a routine mammogram,” Hobbs said.

She called four other locations but had trouble getting in because they too were dealing with a lack of technologists.

Mammograms are the first line of defense for breast cancer and it already runs in Hobbs’ family. So she knows how important it is to get them done.

“I have a stepmother that died of breast cancer. My sister-in-law had …