PCs Call to Lower Breast Cancer Screening Age to 40
WINNIPEG — Progressive Conservative Health Critic Kathleen Cook is calling on the NDP to immediately put forward a plan to lower the breast cancer screening age in Manitoba to 40.
“This is the right thing to do for Manitoba women,” said Cook. “A plan to lower the breast cancer screening age in Manitoba is needed now, and this shouldn’t be a partisan issue.”
The Canadian Cancer Society is calling for provinces to reduce the screening age for breast cancer to 40. Manitoba is the only province in the country to have not reduced the age for screening, announced its intent to reduce, or started a review process.
Manitoba breast cancer advocates were told that the NDP is waiting on recommendations from the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Measures—which both the Canadian Cancer Society and the Nurse Practitioner Association of Canada have withdrawn their support for due to insufficient breast cancer guidelines.
“Every other province in the country has taken action regardless of current guidelines. It’s time for Manitoba to do the same,” said Cook.
Data shows that rates of breast cancer in women under the age of 50 have increased significantly. Screening women aged 40 to 49 is associated with significantly higher survival rates.
“As a breast cancer survivor, I know firsthand the harsh impacts cancer treatment can have on people even with early-stage cancers,” said Jennifer Borgfjord, Advocate for Dense Breasts Canada. “Emphasising screening at a younger age means more women will have more information about their breast health faster, and that means Manitobans with breast cancer will have improved quality and length of life. There is plenty of evidence that screening should be happening much earlier than the age of 50, and Manitoba should not be the only province holding out.”
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