Breast Cancer Screening
Who Should Get Screened For Breast Cancer?
- Screening for women at average risk, age 50 and over.
- Screening women at high risk of developing breast cancer, age 30 to 69.
1. Screening for women at average risk, age 50 and over.
Evidence shows that regular mammograms for women age 50 and over are the most effective way to detect breast cancer early.
Your chances of getting breast cancer increase as you get older. More than 80% of breast cancers are found in women over 50 years old, and most women diagnosed with breast cancer have no family history of the disease. Regular mammograms can help to find breast cancer when it is small and hard to detect.
Find out more about when you should be screened for breast cancer with this simple Time To Screen Tool.
Where to go for breast screening in Ontario
Ontario has many breast screening locations that provide high quality services across the province. Locate breast screening centre near you.
2. Screening women at high risk of developing breast cancer, age 30 to 69.
For women between the ages of 30 and 69 at high risk of breast cancer, the chances of getting breast cancer are two to five times higher than in the general population. The risk of getting cancer can be as high as 85% if you have certain genetic mutations that are linked with breast cancer like BRCA1 and BRCA2. It's important to be screened for breast cancer if you are at high risk of developing the disease.
How do I know if I am at high risk of developing breast cancer?
Confirmation of high risk is usually established through a breast cancer assessment that identifies your lifetime risk, or through genetic testing. For most women, high risk is linked to a family history of breast or other cancers.
Find out more about your risk of developing breast cancer - answer the Cancer Screening Tool questions and talk to your family doctor or nurse practitioner about the right screening for you at your next visit.
Which women between the ages of 30 to 69 are at risk of developing breast cancer?
- Women who have already completed genetic testing for breast cancer and have received confirmation of a genetic mutation.
- Women who have not completed genetic testing themselves, but who have a parent, sibling or child with confirmation of the genetic mutation.
- Women with a family history that indicates hereditary breast cancer syndrome and who have greater than or equal to 25% lifetime risk of breast cancer confirmed through a genetic counselling.
- Women who received radiation therapy to the chest before 30 years of age as treatment for another cancer or condition (i.e. Hodgkin's disease).
If you are between the ages of 30 and 69 and identified by a physician as high risk for breast cancer, it is recommended that you have yearly screening using both a mammogram and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).
Your family doctor or nurse practitioner will refer you to an OBSP Navigator to book your screening services.
Find out more about the Ontario Breast Screening Program.
For More Information
Call ServiceOntario, Infoline at 1-866-532-3161
In Toronto, 416-314-5518
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