Breast Cancer Screening Information

About Breast Cancer

• You do not always feel or see breast cancer.
• Cells in the breast sometimes change and no longer grow or behave normally. These changes may lead to benign (pronounced “buh-nine”) breast conditions. Benign conditions are not cancer, but sometimes they can raise your chance of getting breast cancer.
• When breast cells begin to divide, they sometimes form a lump, called a “tumour.” Some tumours are benign (not cancer) and some tumours with abnormal cells may be breast cancer. 
• 1 in 8 women will get breast cancer in her lifetime.
• Every year, about 12,000 women in Ontario will get breast cancer and about 2,000 women will die from the disease.
• In Ontario, breast cancer usually develops later in life, with over 83% of cases being diagnosed in women over age 50.
• Most women with breast cancer do not have a family history of the disease.

Breast Cancer Screening

• Cancer screening is testing done on people who may be at risk of getting cancer, but who have no symptoms and generally feel fine.
• A mammogram is an X-ray that can find abnormal changes in your breast, even when they may be too small to feel or see.
• Mammograms are the best way to find breast cancer early, even before you have symptoms.
• During a mammogram, someone who is trained to give mammograms will place your breast on a special X-ray machine. A plastic plate will be pressed down slowly to flatten your breast and hold it in place for a few seconds. There will be some pressure on your breast, much like a tight blood pressure cuff, for a few seconds during the X-ray. This pressure does not harm your breast tissue. The person giving you the mammogram is trained to make sure the experience is as comfortable as possible and will be able to adjust the pressure if you need them to.
• Images are taken of each breast, from 2 different angles.
• Your appointment will usually take about 15 minutes.
• Most people will have normal mammogram results.

Why Breast Cancer Screening is Important

• Getting screened regularly with a mammogram is important because it can find cancer early when it may be smaller and less likely to have spread to other parts of the body, and treatment has a better chance of working.
• Research shows that women ages 50 to 74 who get screened regularly with mammograms can lower their chance of dying from breast cancer. To get the full benefits of regular breast cancer screening, it is important to talk to your primary care provider about getting more tests if you have an abnormal mammogram.

How Effective are Screening Mammograms?

• Screening tests are not perfect and may miss some cancers. Also, some cancers can grow in the time between screens. These are some of the many reasons that regular screening is important.
• Mammogram results are sometimes abnormal even though more tests show that there is no cancer present. This is called a “false-positive” result.
• Some breast cancers that are seen on a mammogram may never harm you during your lifetime. Therefore, you may have surgery or treatment for a breast cancer that would have never been life-threatening.

About the Ontario Breast Screening Program

• The Ontario Breast Screening Program is a province-wide, organized cancer screening program. The goal of the program is to lower the chance of dying from breast cancer through regular screening. The Ontario Breast Screening Program also helps to make sure women with abnormal screening test results get the right kind of follow-up, such as more tests or appointments.
• The Ontario Breast Screening Program screens 2 groups of women in Ontario and recommends that most women should:

• get screened once every 2 years with a mammogram if they are 50 to 74 years old 
• get screened once a year with a mammogram and breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (or screening breast ultrasound if MRI is not right for someone) if they are 30 to 69 years old and confirmed to be at high risk of getting breast cancer 

• If you are eligible for breast cancer screening, the Ontario Breast Screening Program will mail you a letter inviting you to get screened. The program also sends letters if your results are normal and to remind you when it is time to get screened again. If you do not want to get letters from the Ontario Breast Screening Program, please call 1-866-662-9233 or complete and submit the Cancer Screening Programs: Participant Information Form (PDF). 

Who is Eligible for Screening Through the High Risk Ontario Breast Screening Program?

• If you are 30 to 69 years old, you can get screened through the High Risk Ontario Breast Screening Program if you:

• have a gene mutation that puts you at high risk for breast cancer (e.g., in BRCA1, BRCA2)
• have a first-degree relative (parent, brother, sister or child) who has a gene mutation that puts them at a higher risk for breast cancer
• have had a genetic assessment and have a lifetime risk of breast cancer that is at least 25% based on personal and family history
• have had radiation therapy to your chest to treat another cancer or condition (e.g., Hodgkin lymphoma) before age 30 and at least 8 years ago

• Less than 1 woman out of 100 is estimated to be at high risk of getting breast cancer.

Breast Awareness

• If you notice changes in your breasts or have concerns, you should see your doctor or nurse practitioner, no matter how old you are. Most changes are not cancer, but they should be checked right away.
• You should contact your doctor or nurse practitioner if you notice: 

• a lump or dimpling of your skin
• changes in your nipple or fluid coming from your nipple
• redness or skin changes that do not go away
• any other changes in your breasts

Getting Ready for Your Mammogram

• You should book your mammogram for a time when your breasts are not tender. Your breasts may be tender:
  
  • the week before and after your period
  • if you have drinks with caffeine (like coffee, tea or other drinks high in caffeine)
• Some experts say that having less caffeine for 2 weeks before your mammogram can help make your breasts less tender.
• On the day of the mammogram:

• wear a 2-piece outfit (like a top and pants, or a top and a skirt) because you will be asked to take off your top
• do not use deodorants, antiperspirants, body lotions or talcum powder because they can affect the accuracy of the mammogram

Follow-up Care After an Abnormal Mammogram

• If you have an abnormal mammogram result, it does not necessarily mean you have breast cancer. 
• The clinic where you did your test will send your results to your doctor or nurse practitioner. The clinic will also book a follow-up appointment for you.
• If you do not have a doctor or nurse practitioner, you will be matched with a doctor who will take care of you until more testing is done to find out whether you have breast cancer.

Lowering Your Risk of Getting Breast Cancer

• Have a healthy body weight, especially after menopause (after you stop getting periods).
• Be physically active as part of everyday life.
• Limit alcohol—any amount of alcohol can increase the chance of getting breast cancer.
• Quit smoking and stop using tobacco products (e.g., cigarettes and chewing tobacco).
• Limit your time on oral contraceptives or hormone replacement therapy if you use it.
• Talk to your doctor or nurse practitioner about getting screened with a mammogram.

How to Get Screened for Breast Cancer

• If you are 50 to 74 years old, you can:

• contact your closest Ontario Breast Screening Program site to make an appointment (see Ontario Breast Screening Program Locations or call 1-800-668-9304)
• contact your doctor or nurse practitioner, who can send you for screening

• If you are 30 to 69 years old and think you may be at high risk for breast cancer, you should visit your family doctor. They can send you for an assessment or for screening based on your family or medical history.

For More Information

• For general information about health-related programs and services, call Service Ontario at 1-877-234-4343, TTY 1-800-387-5559.

For more information on cancer statistics, please visit the 2018 Ontario Cancer Statistics report.