Breast screening in Canada, 2023-24
About this section
This section describes how elevated risk and high risk for breast cancer are defined by jurisdictions and how these levels of risk affect screening strategies.
Elevated and high risk
Many jurisdictions differentiate between average risk, “elevated” risk, and “high” risk of breast cancer, and these specific levels of risk have their own definitions, and impact screening eligibility.
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Some jurisdictions are actively planning for risk-based screening for breast cancer:
- British Columbia: Launched the Higher Risk Program in May 2022. Expanded service to support surveillance for participants with a previous tissue diagnosis of Atypical Ductal Hyperplasia (ADH), typical Lobular Hyperplasia (ALH), or Classical Lobular Carcinoma In Situ (LCIS), including patient and provider notifications and direct referral to diagnostic imaging for annual mammography. (bccancer.bc.ca)
- New Brunswick: implemented the “Health Care Provider: Stepwise Approach to Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Tool” in February 2022 that provide evidence-based recommendations for how to screen patients for breast cancer screening, regardless of their age, risk or eligibility.
- Alberta: completing IT system change which will support identifying risks as they actively plan a move towards risk-based screening.
Saskatchewan and Newfoundland and Labrador are investigating a move to risk-based screening.