REGULAR BREAST SCREENING IS IMPORTANT

From October 8, 2024, the Ontario Breast Screening Program (OBSP) expands the screening program to people ages 40 to 49. This means that Ontarians (women, Two-Spirit people, trans people, nonbinary people and women with breast implants) can begin routine breast screening (Mammograms) without a referral between the ages of 40 and 74 if they:

  • Have no breast cancer symptoms

  • Have no personal history of breast cancer
  • Have not had a mastectomy (surgery to remove breast tissue)
  • Have not had a screening mammogram within the last 11 months

  • If transfeminine, have used feminizing hormones for at least 5 years in a row

Most people in this age group who decide to get screened for breast cancer should get screened with mammography every 2 years

If you are not eligible for the Ontario Breast Screening Program but are interested in breast cancer screening, discuss your options with your family doctor or nurse practitioner.

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If you are ages 40 to 49, we encourage you to make an informed decision about whether to get screened for breast cancer. Talk with your family doctor, your nurse practitioner or a Health811 navigator about:

  • your personal risk of getting breast cancer
  • the potential benefits and potential harms of breast cancer screening

  • what matters most to you in taking care of your health

Visit cancercareontario.ca/breast to find your closest screening site and for more information about the Ontario Breast Screening Program. To book your mammogram, call 1.800.668.9304. A referral from a family doctor or nurse practitioner is not required.

Need this information in an accessible format?
1-877-280-8538, TTY 1-800-855-0511, [email protected]

Screening during pregnancy and lactation

Screening with mammography during pregnancy is safe and effective. If you do not want to get screened while you are pregnant, you can start screening 3 months after giving birth, even if you are still lactating.

***Contact your family doctor or nurse practitioner if you notice any changes in your breasts (chest), such as a lump or redness that does not go away, or changes to your nipple. Also, the effects of pregnancy or breastfeeding can hide the symptoms of breast cancer or cause them to be overlooked, so it is important to be aware of them. Changes to the breast (chest) are not always caused by cancer, but they should be checked right away.


Guide To A Better

breast screening Experience

MAMMOGRAM PREPARATION

  • If possible, obtain prior mammograms and make them available to the radiologist at the time of the current exam.
  • Before scheduling a mammogram it is recommended that you discuss any new findings or problems in your breasts with your doctor. In addition, inform your doctor of any prior surgeries, hormone use, and family or personal history of breast cancer.
  • Do not schedule your mammogram for the week before your period if your breasts are usually tender during this time. The best time to schedule is one week after your period. Always inform your doctor, radiologist, and x-ray technologist if there is any possibility that you are pregnant.
  • Do not wear deodorant, talcum powder, or lotion under your arms or on your breasts on the day of the exam. These can appear on the x-ray film as “calcification”.
  • Describe any breast symptoms or problems to the technologist performing the exam.
  • Ask when your results will be available; do not assume the results are normal if you do not hear from your doctor.

What is a mammogram?

A mammogram is a low radiation-dose x-ray exam that produces an image of your breast that radiologists use to help detect and analyze the presence of lesions (e.g. tumors, cysts, calcifications).

Why should I get a mammogram?

One in eight will develop breast cancer over the
course of their lives. Mammography exams allow radiologists to better detect possible abnormalities in the breast at early stage, when it’s easier to treat. And with GE’s Senographe Pristina, radiologists have superior diagnostic confidence in the images acquired.

Is it really painful?

Breast compression is necessary to obtain
the image quality needed to accurately detect
lesions in a mammography image and limit
absorbed radiation dose.
Today, many mammography systems are
designed to improve patient comfort.
For instance, mammography units are
equipped with safety mechanisms that limit
compression at an identified level to
prevent unnecessary pain.
Also, mammography exams are often
scheduled at the early to middle stage of your
menstrual cycle, when your breasts are less
sensitive and easiest to image.

What happens if an abnormality is detected?

• After the mammography exam, the images
are transferred to the radiologist for review

• If a possible breast cancer lesion is detected on the mammogram, other examinations. will be necessary to get the information needed for an accurate diagnosis. Such exams could involve ultrasound, spot magnification view. contrast-enhanced spectral mammography (CESM), MRI and/or a breast tissue biopsy

What steps are involved in a mammography exam?

• You will be invited to remove your shirt and leave
your belongings in the dressing room
• When you’re ready, the radiographer will guide
you into the examination room and explain
where to stand
• The radiographer will then carefully position
your breast on the detector plate and show you
where you can comfortably place your arm
• Once properly positioned, your breast will
be compressed so that the lowest possible
radiation dose will be needed for a precise image
• On average, a mammography examination
lasts for a few minutes, unless additional views
or exams are required.

Related links | More information on when to get screened

Cancer Care Ontario (CCO)

Breast cancer screening: https://www.cancercareontario.ca/en/types-of-cancer/breast-cancer/screening

Mammogram frequently asked questions:https://www.cancercareontario.ca/en/types-of-cancer/breast-cancer/screening/mammogram-faq

My CancerIQ: https://www.mycanceriq.ca/

The Ontario Breast Screening Program (OBSP) recommends that most women ages 50 to 74 get screened every two years with mammography.

Please review the document for instructions on “How to prepare” for your upcoming test.

How to Prepare

Frequently asked Questions

Mammography is vital for early detection of breast cancer, which significantly improves treatment outcomes and survival rates.

During a mammogram, the breast is compressed between two plates while X-ray images are taken from different angles.

Guidelines vary, but generally, women should start getting regular mammograms at age 40 or earlier if they have specific risk factors.

The frequency of mammograms depends on individual risk factors and medical guidelines, but typically, women should have them annually or biennially starting at age 40.

The compression of the breast during a mammogram may cause temporary discomfort or mild pain for some women, but it’s usually brief.

Mammography involves exposure to low doses of radiation, but the benefits of early cancer detection far outweigh the risks.

An abnormal result may require further testing, such as additional imaging or a biopsy, to determine if cancer or other breast abnormalities are present.

While mammography is highly effective, it may not detect all breast cancers, particularly in women with dense breast tissue. Additional imaging or screening methods may be recommended in such cases.

Mammography is generally safe during pregnancy or breastfeeding if medically necessary, although precautions may be taken to minimize radiation exposure.

Yes, although breast cancer is less common in men, mammograms can be used for breast cancer screening in men with specific risk factors or symptoms.

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