QUEBEC – Free access to breast cancer screening in Quebec has now been expanded to include women aged 70 to 74 years in order to improve cancer prevention and control services.
Until now, the program was offered exclusively to Quebec women aged 50 to 69 years. This screening test will be performed every two years, at a designated screening center (CDD), whether the women are referred by a doctor or not.
Since February 1, eligible persons have received, by mail, a personal invitation letter allowing them to obtain an appointment for a mammogram at a recognized radiological clinic, in all regions of Quebec. Therefore, eligible women do not need to obtain a prescription from a health professional, as the program letter can be used for this purpose.
The Quebec government has also given a mandate to the National Institute for Excellence in Health and Social Services (INESSS) to evaluate the possibility of expanding screening starting at age 40, an age 10 years younger than current eligibility.
The Canadian Cancer Society has concluded that breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in Canada and the second leading cause of cancer death among Canadian women, Quebec's Ministry of Health and Social Services reported.
In Quebec, approximately 8,000 new cases of breast cancer occur each year, and about 80% of these cases affect women aged 50 and older.
