This text is a translation of the content from CTV News.
“The doctor asked me if I had a family history of breast cancer. I lied to him and said yes, my aunts had breast cancer. This lie eventually led to a mammogram and a shocking diagnosis in February.
Speaking to CTV News from her home in Oshawa, Ontario, Lunn explained, “The subtype (of breast cancer) I have is triple negative, which is the most common type of aggressive breast cancer. When my oncologist heard my story, she said, ‘I saved Your life just happened, you know that?”
Next week, Ontario will join British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Atlantic Canada in offering mammograms to women over 40 if they request one. The minimum age in Alberta and Manitoba is 45 years. Quebec is reviewing its policy.
But at 38, Lunn wasn't able to get a mammogram anywhere else in the country. Before being diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer, Lone had no symptoms. The doctor's physical examination revealed nothing.
In her personal and professional life as an educational assistant, Lunn says she continued to meet younger and younger women with breast cancer. She said something inside her made her go back to the doctor for a checkup.
“I think if I had waited until I was 40, I would be dead by now. I don't think I would be sitting here. You wouldn't be interviewing me.”
Sidra Lone, a breast cancer patient
See also | She suffers from incurable cancer, and wants to fight until the end
A recent study found that over the past three decades, the number of breast cancer diagnoses has increased by 12.5% among women in their 30s. Dr. Jan Selye is one of the researchers who conducted this study. Although breast cancer rates among women under 40 without symptoms or a family history of cancer are relatively low, mammograms should be available to people who request them, she said.
“We must judge each case individually. We do not recommend widespread screening in the population, but we should not deprive women of the opportunity to have a mammogram if they really want to,” says the doctor.
Lowering the age for mammograms from 50 to 40 “will enable 305,000 Ontarians to access important services, ensuring breast cancer is detected and treated earlier,” the Ontario Minister of Health's office told CTV News.
Dr. Seeley is quick to point out that although mammograms save lives, they are not perfect. They can detect many types of cancer, but this may be a challenge for young women with “dense breasts.”
“If we have women who have dense breast tissue, or women who have a strong family history and dense breast tissue, we have to include them in a high-risk screening program,” Dr. Seely said. “That means they have to have a mammogram and an MRI or an ultrasound.” “Acoustic.”
Loon, who was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer, believes more needs to be done to help women under 40, like herself.
“I don’t want to lie, but I want the health system to look into my case,” she says.
Since speaking out, the 38-year-old says she has received hate messages from people claiming she jumped the line to get a mammogram and accused her of lying. Ms. Lunn's message to these people is: “We must raise our voices to save our lives.”
