Roughly 76,000 more Saskatchewan women can now book free routine breast cancer screenings as the provincial government lowers the eligibility age to 40.
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The final phase of the rollout took effect July 1, expanding the BreastCheck program to include women aged 40 to 43. The government began gradually lowering the screening age from 50 over the past 18 months.
Health minister Jeremy Cockrill said the expansion delivers on a provincial commitment to improve access to vital healthcare.
“The lowering of the screening age is putting patients first by ensuring more women across Saskatchewan can receive the right care, in the right place, at the right time,” Cockrill said.
About 75 per cent of breast cancers in Saskatchewan are detected early through routine screening mammograms, according to provincial data.
Karen Efthimiou, vice president of population health, quality and research at the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency, encouraged women to make the biennial low-dose X-ray a part of their routine care.
“Regular screening is an important way to look after your health, as it can detect changes early, often before symptoms develop,” Efthimiou said.
Eligible women do not need a doctor’s referral to book a screening, provided they are asymptomatic, do not have breast implants and have been breast cancer-free for at least five years.
Screenings are available at eight designated locations across the province, as well as via two mobile mammography units serving rural and northern communities.
Provincial health officials emphasized that the BreastCheck program is strictly for routine screening. Anyone experiencing symptoms, such as lumps or skin changes, should seek a doctor’s referral for a diagnostic mammogram.
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