The Ontario provincial health department is lowering the eligibility age for routine breast cancer screenings. In an initiative led by Health Minister Sylvia Jones, the age limit for regular screenings will drop from 50 to 40 years old. This progressive move is set to boost preventative healthcare, aiding in the early detection of breast cancer.
An official announcement by Minister Jones is expected later today. She has indicated that the expansion plan would result in an approximate increase of 130,000 mammograms performed throughout the province annually.
The decision to reduce the eligibility age is founded on a draft recommendation issued by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force earlier this year. Therein, they suggested that the age for initiating screenings in the United States be lowered to 40 from 50. The recommendation was supported by substantial evidence pointing to a potential decrease in mortality rates with the age reduction.
From fall 2024, Ontario’s change in policy means that eligible women, non-binary, trans and two-spirit individuals aged between 40 and 74 can self-refer for a biennial mammogram. Furthermore, persons within the age range of 30 to 69 who are considered high-risk – those with a familial history of breast cancer or carriers of certain genes known to increase the risk of breast cancer – are already entitled to regular mammograms and breast MRIs.
The health ministry has declared that prior to the fall of 2024, breast cancer screening facilities will hire additional employees and collaborate with the government to devise a public reporting system. This system will enable patients to monitor province-wide waiting times.
Minister Jones emphasized the importance of early detection and increased access to care in a statement, noting, “Nearly 12,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year, and we know early detection and increased access to care saves lives. That is why our government is taking this important step today.”
Sherry Wilcox, who received a breast cancer diagnosis in her 40s, expresses her support for the age reduction. Wilcox underscores the potential of early detection in preventing aggressive therapy and reducing mortality rates, asserting that the progressive initiative will undoubtedly save lives.
Details regarding the number of additional staff required and specific funding allocated to expanding the screening program are currently being reviewed by Ontario Health, according to a spokesperson for Minister Jones. While precise figures remain undisclosed, the intention to bolster provincial healthcare remains unquestionable.
