The Canadian Cancer Society has just added its voice to those who are calling for the age for breast cancer screening to be lowered to 40, due to the increase in diagnoses of this disease among younger women.
The organization wants the change to come as the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care (CTFPHC) is due to release its new guidelines this month.
“In recent years, we have seen the emergence of a fundamental movement advocating screening from a younger age as well as a more inclusive system, which would allow people aged 40 to 49, regardless of where they live, to access screening without having to overcome obstacles,” underlined Sandra Krueckl, Senior Vice-President, Mission, Information and Support Services at the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS).
The provinces have the final say on the age at which breast cancer screening begins and ends. In Quebec, the program is offered to women aged 50 to 74. Those of another age must discuss with their doctor to have a mammogram “according to their personal risk”.
“Lowering the age for starting screening is an important step; this makes it possible to detect more cancers and to detect them earlier, when the treatment is most likely to be successful,” said David Raynaud, manager responsible for files in Quebec for the Defense of the Public Interest team. at the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS).
By changing its position, the organization is aligning itself with guidelines recently published in the United States which also recommend lowering the age for access to screening.
One in eight Canadian women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime, according to CCS estimates.
