Breast screening in Canada, 2023-24

Follow-up after a normal mammogram

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Receiving results and follow-up for normal breast screening test results

P/T Mailed to participant  Sent to PCP/ healthcare provider 
YT  ✓ ✓
NT  ✓ ✓
NU*  ✓
Varies by site
BC  ✓ ✓
AB  ✓ ✓
SK^  ✓ ✓
MB  ✓ ✓
ON  ✓ ✓
QC  ✓ ✓
NB  ✓ ✓
NS  ✓ ✓
PE  ✓ ✓
NL  ✓ ✓

*NU: For screens done outside of territory, would follow out-of-territory jurisdictional protocols.
^SK: Report available to clients and providers via electronic health record.

Recall interval for normal breast screening results

P/T  1–2 years  2 years  Based on radiologist recommendation  Based on identified risk factors 
YT  ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
NT*  ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
NU^
BC  ✓ ✓
AB  ✓ ✓ ✓
SK  ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
MB  ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
ON  ✓~ ✓~ ✓~
QC  ✓ ✓ ✓
NB  ✓ ✓ ✓
NS  ✓ ✓ ✓
PE  ✓ ✓ ✓
NL  ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

*NT: Most participants are recalled every two years, except for those who have been identified with high-risk factors, and/or radiologist recommendations are screened on a year recall.
^NU: For screens done outside of territory, would follow out-of-territory jurisdictional protocols.
~ON: Most participants are recalled every two years; however, some participants are recalled in one year based on identified risk factors and/or radiologist recommendation.

Breast screening reminder notifications

P/T Reminder notifications
YT Reminder call is made the day before scheduled appointment. Recall letter is mailed to patient three months before recommended follow-up screening date.
NT Reminder letter sent to patient two weeks before the beginning of the month when screening is due. Second reminder letter sent 15 days after appointment is due if patient has not been seen or booked for a mammogram.
NU Opportunistic screening only.
BC A series of up to three reminder mails are sent over a 23-month period as reminder notifications.
AB Reminder letter is sent from the program once when >120 days overdue.
SK Reminder letter is sent two weeks after initial invite if no appointment is booked.
MB Reminder letter is sent three weeks after the invitation/recall letter if an appointment is not scheduled. If no response continues, a recall letter will be sent annually until response or participant ages out (75) of program. A maximum of four sets of letters (invitation, recall, and reminder) will be sent.
ON Recall letter sent by screening program two months before participant is due for screening. Recall reminder letter sent by screening program approximately 10 weeks after the recall letter if screening is not initiated.
QC Recall reminder letter sent by screening program approximately 10 weeks after the recall letter if screening is not initiated.
NB Most screening sites send reminder letters to participants within 24 months after invitation if no screening mammogram occurs, or within 24 months after a normal mammogram (re-invitation) if no screening is scheduled.
NS Reminder postcard is sent three months prior to the individual’s due date if screening appointment has not been scheduled. Use of email reminders has been approved and testing has begun.
PE Reminder letter sent five months prior to individual’s due date, with an overdue letter two months following the due date if screening is not initiated. Skip the Waiting Room reminder service sends scheduled patients a text/call both seven days and one day prior to their appointment to assist in reducing number of no-shows/missed appointments.
NL Appointment reminder letter sent to participant four weeks prior to scheduled appointment. If a person books or changes their appointment within the four-week window, a reminder letter is not sent. Participants are given their recall appointment for screening when they receive their result letter.
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