Alberta lowers age for women to be screened for breast cancer

Alberta Health Services has lowered the recommended age for biennial breast cancer screening for average-risk women from 50 to 45.

Alberta is lowering the age at which women can begin getting screened for breast cancer.

Alberta Health Services has lowered the recommended age for biennial breast cancer screening for average-risk women from 50 to 45.

“Early detection and treatment gives people with cancer the best chance to survive this disease,” Health Minister Jason Copping said in a news release.

AHS said the updated guidelines were created by the Alberta Breast Cancer Screening Clinical Practice Guideline Committee. They are the result of “an extensive review of new available evidence,” according to AHS.

“More evidence has become available to show net benefits of breast cancer screening at a younger age,” committee co-chair Dr. Huiming Yang said. “That is why the breast cancer screening guidelines now recommend including average-risk women aged 45 to 49 into biennial screening.

The most recent statistics show more than 240 Alberta women between the ages of 45 and 49 were diagnosed with breast cancer in 2018.

AHS said about 12,000 more screening mammograms could be performed each year for women aged 45 to 49, based on current screening rates.

“Health-care providers are encouraged to recommend biennial screening mammograms for women who are at average risk beginning at age 45,” committee co-chair Dr. Lisa Stevenson said. “By being more proactive in our screening efforts, we can make a real difference in the lives of Albertans.”