Good morning.

My name is Kelly Wilson Cull, and I'm the director of advocacy. With me today is Ciana Van Dusen, who's the advocacy manager of prevention and early detection.

The Canadian Cancer Society is the voice for people who care about cancer in Canada. As a part of our commitment to improving and saving lives, we are pleased to provide recommendations on breast cancer screening.

Cancer is the leading cause of death in Canada. It is predicted that two out of five people will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime, and approximately one in four will die of the disease. In Canada, an estimated one in eight women is expected to be diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime. Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in Canada, and despite fewer women being diagnosed with breast cancer under the age of 50, it remains the leading cause of cancer death for people in Canada aged 30 to 49.

While data from a new study shows that breast cancer incidence rates for women in Canada in their forties have increased over the last 55 years, overall, breast cancer incidence and death rates in Canada are trending downwards as early detection, treatment and care continue to improve. However, we must acknowledge that international data indicates that more Black, Asian and Hispanic women with breast cancer are diagnosed before the age of 50 and are more often diagnosed with a later-stage disease compared with other women. This means that waiting to start screening at age 50 could result in missed opportunities for early detection among women in these communities.

Evidence from trials, modelling studies and real-world data has shown benefits from regular breast cancer screening starting at age 40. Timely access to breast cancer screening is critical to finding breast cancer early, when treatment is most likely to be successful. We continue to hear from people living with breast cancer that they do not feel represented by the current guidelines because they do not reflect their lived experiences. Furthermore, according to a national survey, most respondents support expanding systematic access to breast cancer screening to include women aged 40 to 49.

CCS supports expanding access to breast cancer screening for women and trans, non-binary and gender-diverse people aged 40 to 49 at average risk of developing breast cancer. We also need to ensure that there is clear guidance for people who have an elevated or high risk of developing breast cancer, such as people with certain genetic mutations, a family history or dense breasts.

I will turn the remarks over to Ciana.