Quebec’s national institute for excellence in health and social services (INESSS) recommended expanding the province’s breast cancer screening program to include women aged 45 to 49. The Health Ministry had commissioned a study to explore screening options for women over 40.
Currently, Quebec offers mammograms every two years to women aged 50 to 74 through the RAMQ health insurance plan. However, younger women have to get a referral for a breast X-ray. Concerns have risen due to the increasing rate of breast cancer in women under 50 in recent years.
Dr. Grégoire Bernèche, president of the Quebec Association of Radiologists (ARQ), highlighted the rising breast cancer risk among 40 to 49-year-olds, emphasizing the need for earlier screening.
Expanding the screening program to women aged 45 to 49 would cost approximately $177 million over five years, according to the INESSS. Karine-Iseult Ippersiel, president and CEO of the Quebec Breast Cancer Foundation, supported the move, stating that early detection could prevent more aggressive cancers and improve survival rates.
The Health Ministry welcomed the report and pledged to release an official position soon, emphasizing the importance of prevention for high-risk groups. However, INESSS cautioned that the screening program needed significant upgrades to accommodate younger women, including addressing high recall rates, long wait times, and staffing shortages.
Despite challenges, there is confidence in managing the increased volume of patients. Ippersiel proposed a risk-based approach to screening, suggesting a personalized assessment tool to identify high-risk individuals efficiently. The foundation is piloting a risk-assessment tool combining a saliva test and survey in Quebec City and Lanaudière, aiming for broader implementation across Quebec for early detection among high-risk women.
