Women in their 40s can now get a publicly funded mammogram through the provincial breast screening program.
As of Tuesday, the provincial government has lowered the age for those eligible to self-refer for the Ontario Breast Screening Program from 50 to 40.
“Breast cancer affects one in every nine women in Ontario and we know early detection and increased access to treatment and care saves lives,” Health Minister Sylvia Jones said in a statement. “That is why today our government is proud to take this historic step by connecting an additional one million Ontarians to the care they need, when and where they need it.”
It is recommended that women have a mammogram done every two years with research showing that regular screening can detect breast cancer before it has a chance to spread. When diagnosed at stage 1, breast cancer has a 100 per cent, five-year relative survival rate, but when not detected until stage four the survival rate drops to less than 30 per cent. The province's breast cancer screening program allows routine mammograms for women up to the age of 74.
Approximately 700,000 women are screened for breast cancer using mammography each year in Ontario. It is estimated that the newly lowered age will allow an additional 305,000 women to self-refer for screening. In anticipation of this, Ontario Breast Screening Program sites have added more hours, extra appointment spots, and have trained additional staff.
"It’s incredibly important that Ontario is expanding access to breast cancer screening through self-referral for people 40+ and will undoubtedly help to reduce the risk of dying of breast cancer for more people in Ontario," said Andrea Seale, the CEO of the Canadian Cancer Society. "Everyone in Canada should have equitable and timely access to breast screening, no matter where they live or who they are."
Eligible women can access the screening program without a doctor's referral by calling 1-800-668-9304.