How do I find a breast cancer screening program?

All provinces and most territories have breast cancer screening programs for this age range if you are at average risk for breast cancer. You can make an appointment at a screening centre without a referral from your healthcare provider.

Depending on your provincial or territorial breast cancer screening program, you may be able to make an appointment without a referral (self-refer) or you may need your healthcare provider to refer you to the program. Your breast cancer screening program may not accept you between the ages of 40 to 49 for a screening mammogram if you do not have any symptoms and are not high risk. In that case, you may need to talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to have a mammogram.

Some provinces have programs or protocols for women and trans, non-binary and gender-diverse people at high risk. The criteria for high risk varies by province and territory. Talk to your healthcare provider about which screening program is best for you and when you should start screening tests. If you are at high risk, you may need more mammograms and other diagnostic tests.