Quebec expands referral-free breast cancer screening to 70- to 74-year-olds – CBC

Province considering expanding program to people 40-49

Mar 05, 2024

Quebec is expanding its breast cancer screening program, which offers free mammograms without a doctor’s referral, to those between the ages of 70 and 74. Until now, the Québec Breast Cancer Screening Program was only available to those between the ages of 50 and 69.

The tests are done every two years at a designated screening centre, known in French as a centre de dépistage désigné (CDD).

Letters inviting those newly eligible to make an appointment at a recognized radiology clinic started going out last month.

The province hopes to offer up to 90,000 additional mammograms every year under the current expansion.

The government and the provincial health institute are also looking into expanding the program to people as of 40. A report is due later this year.

According to the Canadian Cancer Society, breast cancer is the second leading cause of death among Canadian women. About 8,000 new cases of breast cancer are diagnosed every year in Quebec, 80 per cent of which are in people over 50.

Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/breast-cancer-screening-expansion-1.7134244

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