Your Breast Screening Starts Sooner: What People 40-49 Need to Know
Published Wednesday, October 15, 2025
One in nine women in Ontario will face breast cancer in their lifetime, with many diagnosed before turning 50. Now, thanks to a recent expansion of the Ontario Breast Screening Program (OBSP), people in their 40s no longer have to wait to be screened. The province's decision to lower the self-referral age from 50 to 40 gives approximately one million additional women, trans, and non-binary people across Ontario the chance to be screened earlier.
“Breast cancer can and does occur in people in their 40s,” says Dr. Nicole Zavagnin, Regional Primary Care Lead for Cancer Care Ontario at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre. “Having the option to begin screening earlier means more people can be diagnosed at an earlier stage, when treatment is more effective.”
Through the OBSP, eligible individuals aged 40 to 74 who are at average risk can book a mammogram every two years at no cost with a valid OHIP card – no doctor's referral needed. Those at higher risk, such as those with a family history of breast cancer, may need to start screening earlier or be screened more often based on advice from their healthcare provider.
Mammograms remain the most reliable tool for breast cancer screening, able to detect changes in breast tissue before symptoms appear. The benefits are clear: the five-year survival rate for breast cancer found at stage 1 is nearly 100%, but drops to less than 30% when diagnosed at stage 4.
“Cancer screening is for people who feel well and haven't noticed any changes,” days Dr. Zavagnin. “By expanding eligibility, more patients can benefit from early detection and the wider range of treatment options it allows.”
While mammograms are key to early detection, breast health also involves knowing your body, reporting changes promptly, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
“Breast Cancer Awareness Month is a great time to reflect on your personal risk factors and talk with your healthcare provider about whether screening is right for you,” notes Dr. Zavagnin.
Where to Get Screened in Northwestern Ontario
Thunder Bay
Linda Buchan Centre for Breast Screening and Assessment, TBRHSC
980 Oliver Road
(807) 684-7777
Thunder Bay Diagnostics
63 Algoma St. N, Suite 100
(807) 683-4411
Screen for Life Coach (serving Thunder Bay and regional communities)
(807) 684-7777
Fort Frances
Riverside Health Care Facilities
110 Victoria Avenue
(807) 274-4808
Kenora
Lake of the Woods District Hospital
21 West Sylvan Street
(807) 684-7777
Sioux Lookout
Sioux Lookout Meno Ya Win Health Centre
1 Meno Ya Win Way
(807) 737-6579
To learn more about breast cancer screening, visit tbrhsc.net/breast-cancer-screening.
Jasmin Fisher, Cancer Promotion and Communications Planner