The Canadian Cancer Society has stated that all provinces and territories should lower the age for breast cancer screening to 40 years old.
Currently, according to the guidelines of the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care (CTFPHC), screening for breast cancer in the average-risk population should begin at the age of 50.
The task force is expected to modify its current recommendations later this month. However, the Cancer Society emphasized that the final decision on when to screen lies with each province and territory.
Some provinces are already covering the costs of breast X-ray examinations for women aged 40 and above. However, the Cancer Society believes it is crucial for women of that age across the country to have equal access to such screenings. There is increasing evidence to suggest that screening from the age of 40 can lead to the earlier detection of more cases of breast cancer, increasing the chances of successful treatment.
The Cancer Society estimates that one in eight women in Canada will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime.