BC Cancer - Breast Screening

I am shocked at so many negative reviews. I have been using this clinic for 40 years and have never had a bad experience. Very much the opposite. I have found the staff polite and helpful, their communication skills good and their attitude always professional. And they have the very latest tech-wise in equipment. This is essential.

If I could give 0 stars I would. Go to any other clinic if you can. When I showed up for my appointment the receptionist said i'd called and cancelled which I absolutely had not. They would not see me and did not apologize. They re-scheduled me for the next "soonest" available appointment over a week later. I was basically crying in the waiting room and I'd missed work to go. The lack of sensitivity was astounding. The whole waiting room heard everything too. Terrible experience.

I've been here a few times for mammograms and honestly those have always been fine, I've never had to wait long and the technicians doing the mammograms have been ok. They always end up scheduling me for a follow-up ultrasound and THIS is where the trouble starts. idk what is with the ultrasound technicians working in this place but someone needs to tell them they can do their job quickly and efficiently but also be POLITE and PROFESSIONAL at the SAME TIME??? Shocking I know.

Had two chest x-rays at this place. The first time, no protection/lead apron was offered. As I am the patient and trust the technician is ensuring I receive proper care, I didn't think anything of it. Got a follow-up of the same x-ray and was offered a lead apron to cover my abdomen/reproductive organs. I called the office manager and asked why the protection was different and why I wasn't protected adequately from radiation for the first x-ray - she said I should have asked for protection and to make sure to ask next time. What??? As the patient, I am NOT best informed to know what protection I require and trust the technician is doing their due diligence to ensure I am the least exposed to radiation. NEVER GO HERE.

I have been several times, and this is my clinic of choice to attend for mammograms. I've not had any long waits or any issues with staff. The process has been efficient and professional for me.

Triaging urgency of appointments needs improvement. Long wait times of 3-4 weeks for biopsy of breast tissue from initial diagnostic imaging that was highly suggestive of malignancy. This could be due to lack of, or poor protocols in place, poor communication between the radiologist/staff and reception or ineffective reception staff. Or they simply don't care about getting people who most likely have cancer in sooner, because they are too busy. Time is of essence for aggressive breast tumors in younger women. Case could have been managed better by this office.

My technician/screener on April 29th, 2021 I felt like she was slightly torturing me while calling out orders like a drill sergeant. It's all in the tone. She only softened her tone when she briefly thought I was a nurse. Overall though, this is a convenient location and most of the other staff are professional and organized with good safety protocols in place it seems.

They get 1 star since technician started out well with great bedside manner as she asked me if I was cold. Blame the patient and even the doctor for their mistake and makes no apologies So I had to do a follow up and a requisition was sent for one breast. When they called, explained that follow up was suppose to be both sides. The person calling said they only have requisition for one but she will book for both sides. I should call my doctor for requisition for other side and call them 3 days before the appmt to confirm they received it. She also said come 30min early For her helpfulness, I put a 2nd star. My doctor was in disbelief as it was the doctor at this screening who said a follow up was needed and offered to talk to them if there are problems with booking. I followed all their instructions. Got second requisition, called to check and came early to appmt but wait 20mins after my appmt time. So back to the appmt. The technician was nice and completed one side. I told her there should be a 2nd side. She said she will check as she only had 1 requisition. Her supervisor said they only have 1 and cannot do it. I said how. They were the ones who called me for appmt. They said the doctor should have sent requisition. She told me to get the doctor to send it and come again since they will have more time. I told her that your reception called me to book the side that is now missing the requisition, helped me booked me for both sides, asked me to get the 2nd requisition and told me to call to confirm which I did all that. To ask me to come again meant asking time off from work plus it wasn't my mistake. So the supervisor said she will check and technician said she will do the ultrasound. Then technician complains that she is busy and behind schedule and imply its my fault. I respond by asking her how is it my fault. I'm the patient. You are the medical expert. I based my Info on you being the medical expert. I am the patient following instructions given. so she kept quiet. Her supervisor then comes in gentle puts the 2nd requisition and leaves. No apologies. When the technician finsihed, she mumbled you are done. So I asked her did you get the 2nd requisition. She said I don't know then admits yes. Again no apologies. If no errors, then they are nice. if there are errors, even if their fault, they will make it seems like it's you and your doctor's fault. This didn't only happen to me but I have seen it in person while waiting that it happened to others.