Canadian Cancer Society applauds Ontario government for allocating new funding for Breast Screening Program

Mar 30 2011

The Canadian Cancer Society is pleased women with a family history of breast cancer and other higher-risk women will now have access to high-quality breast screening through the Ontario Breast Screening Program.

"Screening saves lives — investing more resources for early detection is an important way to prevent cancer deaths," says Martin Kabat, CEO, Canadian Cancer Society, Ontario Division.

Research has shown that women who have regular mammograms are more likely to survive breast cancer. Early detection may also mean less treatment and less time spent recovering.

An organized screening program like the Ontario Breast Screening Program (OBSP) offers women benefits such as high-quality mammography, assistance with setting up further tests or referrals if needed and a reminder to return for the next screening mammogram.

"We congratulate the Ontario government for allocating new funding to the expansion of the program so that the OBSP continues to provide excellent screening for women of average risk in the 50 to 69 age range," says Kabat.

Last year in Ontario, an estimated 8,900 women were diagnosed with breast cancer and 2,100 died of the disease.