Women aged 40 and older in Ontario can now self-refer for publicly funded mammograms through the Ontario Breast Screening Program (OBSP). This expansion allows an additional one million women to access early detection services, a critical step in fighting breast cancer.
Deputy Premier and Health Minister Sylvia Jones highlighted the importance of early detection, noting that one in nine women in Ontario are affected breast cancer. The expansion lowers the self-referral age from 50 to 40, enabling more women to schedule mammograms without a doctor’s referral.
This initiative, supported by a $20 million provincial investment, increases screening hours and staff at OBSP clinics. Of the one million women between ages 40-49 that are now eligible for mammograms, it is estimated that an additional 305,000 will self refer for screening.
The Ontario government is encouraging all eligible women to discuss screening with a healthcare provider or call Health811 to learn more about their cancer risk and screening options.
Written by: K. Freeman