Toronto resident Elysia Bryan discovered a lump in her right breast during the summer of 2020. Despite being healthy and active at 34, she hesitated to seek screening for breast cancer, hoping the lump would vanish. Bryan shared, “It was visible and painful, but I naively believed it might disappear if I ignored it.”
After months of neglect, Bryan eventually consulted her family doctor in April 2021, who recommended a mammogram and biopsy. Subsequently, she received a breast cancer diagnosis at St. Michael’s Hospital, followed by a lumpectomy within two weeks. Following eight rounds of chemotherapy, 24 radiation sessions, a genetic test, mastectomy, and reconstruction, she triumphed over cancer and now advocates for early breast cancer screening.
Bryan collaborates with The Olive Branch of Hope, assisting Black women battling breast cancer. She emphasized the significance of proactive health measures, especially for young women facing breast cancer diagnoses. Bryan stressed, “Early detection significantly improves treatment outcomes. Delayed detection limits treatment options.”
A recent study by the Hologic Global Women’s Health Index revealed that only 15% of Canadian women underwent screening for breast or cervical cancer in the past year, contrasting with 25% in the United States. The study, developed by Hologic in partnership with Gallup, highlighted lower screening rates among women with lower incomes, ethnic minorities, and newcomers.
Notably, Ontario reduced the self-referral age for mammograms by a decade a year ago, enabling women in their 40s to schedule mammograms without a doctor’s referral. This change aimed to enhance early detection and treatment accessibility for the 1 in 9 Ontario women affected by breast cancer. Health Minister Sylvia Jones underscored, “Timely detection and increased treatment access save lives.”
Despite the policy alteration, only about 21% of eligible women aged 40 to 49 in Ontario underwent screening post-implementation. Dr. Supriya Kulkarni, a breast imaging radiologist at University Health Network, emphasized the need to reach out to underserved communities, including immigrants, refugees, individuals with language barriers, and First Nations populations. Kulkarni urged proactive screening efforts, especially targeting busy younger individuals with familial and economic pressures.
Dr. Ritika Goel, a Toronto-based family physician, highlighted disparities in healthcare access for socially marginalized groups, leading to lower cancer screening rates among racialized and immigrant women. Ontario Health has taken steps to address these inequities by producing multilingual breast cancer screening materials and conducting awareness-raising webinars.
Through preventive care programs and culturally responsive initiatives, Ontario Health facilitated over 7,000 breast screening conversations with underserved communities. The integration of innovative and comfortable screening methods aims to expand reach, save lives, and encourage more women to prioritize regular screenings.