Advocates say Sask. gov't did not properly prepare to drop mammography age to 40 from 50

Advocates for both early breast cancer detection and existing breast cancer patients say the Government of Saskatchewan dropped the ball on preparing the health-care system to accommodate all breast health needs. 

On Sept. 25, the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency (SCA) and the province said the eligible age for mammograms would drop from 50 to 40 with a "phased-in" approach.

"It's not an automatic opening the floodgates to all women 40 and up. It's a stage rolled out approach because we do expect 76,000 women are now newly eligible with the lowering of the age. We can't flood the system that way," said Deb Bulych, president and CEO of the SCA.

The phased roll-out will begin in January 2025 with ages 47 to 49. June 2025 will phase in ages 45 to 47. January 2026 will phase in 43 to 45 and June 2026 is when mammography eligibility will include all of the 40 to 50 age bracket. 

This news was a big upset to Jennie Dale, co-founder and executive director of Dense Breasts Canada, which advocates for early detection of breast cancer across the country. 

The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) released its 'Breast Pathway Vision Report' in September 2020. In the document the SHA said that "annual mammography screening beginning at age 40 has the largest mortality reduction benefit in terms of life years gained."

WATCH | Dense Breasts Canada says Sask. isn't acting fast enough to catch and treat breast cancer: 

Now, Dale is asking what the province has done to prepare in the last four years. 

"Saskatchewan has had a long time to prepare for this. It has had a long time to find additional staff. To say that you are now going to stall another year from January until you get to 40 then you are definitely not only putting lives at stake, but people will suffer," Dale said. 

"You have failed."

Dale said continuous follow-ups and the ability to get timely care is essential for breast cancer patients and survivors. 

"When you have breast cancer, you have breast cancer. There is a possibility that it can return at any time. Attention needs to be paid to women with breast cancer as well," said Dale, who herself is a breast cancer survivor. 

"We are advocating for early detection of breast cancer, but that applies to women who do not have breast cancer as well as women who do have breast cancer because of the risk of recurrence."

Dale said the province's long phased-in approach will impact women, families and communities. Some women in their 40s will have cancer, and their survival can be prevented by detecting the cancer early.