The Canadian Cancer Society is urging provinces and territories to lower the age for breast cancer screening to 40 years old, a move aimed at improving early detection rates across the country. This recommendation comes in anticipation of revised guidelines from the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care, which currently advises screenings to begin at age 50 for individuals at average risk.
The Society points to increasing evidence that earlier screening could significantly enhance the detection of breast cancer at stages where treatment is more likely to be successful. While some provinces already fund mammograms starting at age 40, uniform access nationwide remains inconsistent.
This shift could have a profound impact, considering that one in eight Canadian women is expected to be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. The Canadian Cancer Society believes that equal access to early screenings could lead to better health outcomes for women across Canada.