Breast cancer screening for women in their 40s officially up and running in N.L.

Newfoundland and Labrador has officially implemented breast cancer screening for women in their 40s, following through on a promise made in May of last year.

Jennie Dale, co-founder and executive director of breast cancer advocacy group Dense Breasts Canada, said that decision puts Newfoundland and Labrador ahead of several provinces —annual screening for women in their 40s, and either annual or bi-yearly screening for women aged 50 to 74 depending on their risk factor.

Dale says women who can avail of annual screening in their 40s are 44 per cent less likely to die of breast cancer than women who aren't screened.

"That is what saves the most lives. And not all provinces are doing that, so kudos to Newfoundland," Dale told CBC News Friday.

"These women are now given an equal chance to find breast cancer early.… It is optimal, equitable screening that the province is now offering to women."

Dale says that while she hopes the introduction of self-referral and the addition of women into the screening program won't cause too many hurdles, the province needs to prioritize publicizing the program.

"If women aren't encouraged to go, if they're not educated, they're not aware and the family doctors are not educated, then there will not be sufficient uptake," she said.

"We won't have uptake without public awareness. And to put an ad on social media once in a blue moon is not going to do it."

Dale says there's further steps the province can take, too, such as informing women of their breast density. Newfoundland and Labrador currently only informs women of their breast density if they are in the highest density category. Dale says the majority of women don't fit there.

The initiative was first announced last May, but Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services said time was needed to make sure the proper resources were in place.

The change means women between the ages of 40 and 74 can now enter the provincial breast screening program. Women will also be able to self-refer themselves for screening through the MyHealthNL app, which Health Minister John Hogan said will begin in the spring.

"When it comes to cancer diagnosis, early detection and intervention plays a key role in ensuring the most effective treatment," Hogan told reporters Thursday.

"Even if you detect maybe one per cent of [34,000 women], I mean that's hundreds of women now who will be able to get this screening and who may detect cancer earlier."

Greg Doyle, the provincial manager of the breast screening program, said the province detects between 450 and 500 cases of breast cancer per year through screening.