Download What to Expect at Your Next Breast Screening Appointment

Treat Yourself Right, Get Screened
By Dr. Verna Mai,
Director, Screening Programs, Division of Preventive Oncology, Cancer Care Ontario
Regular breast screening could save your life. More than 95 per cent of women are alive
and well five years after breast cancer is detected and treated early. Regular breast
screening can find cancers early when they are small and less likely to have spread.
For many women, finding cancer early may allow for more treatment options, such as
breast conserving surgery or less aggressive treatment.
Mammograms Work!
Evidence shows mammograms are the best screening tool available for finding early
stage breast cancer. Technological advances have, and will continue to change the way
we image breasts, however, despite these advances, mammography is still the gold
standard for most women. Here are some key points about other screening tools.
Like regular film-screen mammography, digital mammography uses X-rays to find
small cancers. The breast is compressed for the same length of time however the
images are displayed on a computer screen rather than on film. Digital mammography
can be helpful for women with dense breasts. The way for a woman to know if she has
dense breasts is through mammography - it cannot be felt.
Breast MRI along with screening mammography has been shown to be a very effective
screening tool for very high risk women, such as women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene.
Studies have not shown thermography to be an effective way to find breast cancer
early. Thermography does not replace mammograms and it is not licensed for breast
screening in Canada.
A clinical breast exam is still an important part of a woman’s regular health visit with
her physician. Some Ontario Breast Screening sites offer clinical breast exams by
trained nurse examiners.
It is important for you to know how your breasts normally look and feel so you are aware
of any unusual changes and can report them to your doctor or nurse. However, following
a specific, regimented breast self-exam method has not been found to be necessary.
The Ontario Breast Screening Program will continue to evolve over time as new
evidence and technology emerges on the best way to detect early signs of breast
cancer. However, for most women aged 50 and over, mammography is still the best
screening tool. Studies show that regular mammograms for women aged 50-69 can
reduce deaths from breast cancer by up to a third.
All Ontario Breast Screening Program sites are accredited and meet the standards of the
Canadian Association of Radiologists-Mammography Accreditation Program.
For more information, or to make an appointment for breast screening, please call the
Ontario Breast Screening Program at 1-800-668-9304 or visit www.cancer.on.ca.
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