London breast cancer survivor praises Ontario's move to lower age requirements for screening

A London, Ont., woman diagnosed with breast cancer is praising lower age requirements for breast cancer screening in the province, saying it will allow more women to take charge of their health.

People in Ontario can now self-refer themselves for mammograms beginning at age 40. Those aged 40 to 49 can now get an OHIP-covered mammogram without needing a doctor or nurse practitioner's referral, under the Ontario Breast Screening Program.

Health Minister Sylvia Jones announced last year that the province would lower the age for breast cancer screening self-referrals from 50 to 40, and she said Tuesday that the change has now taken effect.

It's good news for Londoner Janice Byrne, who was diagnosed with breast cancer last year at 44 years old. 

"It's fantastic," she said. "I'm so delighted by this because it just means things can go quicker. And I feel that this gives women the opportunity to actually advocate for themselves, go online, book their appointments, get in, and get peace of mind."

Byrne went to her doctor after feeling a sharp pain in her breast in March 2023, but the ultrasound she was given didn't show any concerns. She was told she was fine.

"Something deep inside me said, no, it's not fine," said Byrne, who was diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer by August.

She had to push to have a mammogram since she was not deemed high-risk and could not, at the time, book one on her own, she said.

The mammogram was abnormal, which led to a biopsy that confirmed cancer.

"If I had not pushed on that, [the cancer] would still be sitting there and growing probably," said Byrne.

After having a lumpectomy and receiving chemotherapy and radiation treatment, Byrne has been cleared of cancer and now takes daily medication to lower the chance of recurrence.

Byrne said she now tells other women the importance of getting screened for breast cancer as soon as they can, and thinks the decision to lower the age limit for the mammogram self-referral program is a positive step forward.

Dr. Narinder Paul is a cancer imaging lead with Ontario Health. He says the earlier screening is an important tool more women can use.

"When we start catching disease earlier there are better options to treat it with a better outcome, so it's important that [women] at least think about it," said Paul.

Paul does caution though, that younger women have denser breasts than those who are older, meaning it can be harder to detect abnormalities on tests such as mammograms and can lead to higher chances of false positives.

With that awareness in mind, he said more screening is still beneficial.

"Extending the screening age to a younger population makes a lot of sense. But of course, every woman needs to understand the advantages of the screening and the risk of screening for ourselves."

The Ontario Breast Screening Program recommends those eligible for a mammogram to speak with a health care provider to determine if they should be screened. 

People can go to Ontariohealth.ca to find a breast cancer screening site near them and book a mammogram appointment.