B.C. serial killer Robert Pickton dead following prison attack
Convicted B.C. serial killer Robert Pickton, who preyed on women he lured from Vancouver's Downtown Eastside to his rural pig farm, has died.
All provinces and territories should lower the starting age for breast cancer screening to 40, the Canadian Cancer Society said Thursday.
Some provinces already pay for mammograms starting at age 40, but the current guideline set by a national task force advises beginning breast cancer screening at age 50.
It's critical for women across the country to have "timely access to breast screening, no matter where they live," said Sandra Krueckl, the cancer society's executive vice-president of mission, information and support services.
"There's strong enough evidence from trials, from modelling studies and from real-world data to warrant that shift to 40," said Krueckl in an interview.
"We have been hearing for a long time now that there's concern about (women) age 40 to 49 and their ability to access (screening)."
About 13 per cent of breast cancer cases in Canada occur in women in that age group, Krueckl said.
Earlier diagnosis often means less invasive treatment is required and outcomes are more successful, she said.
The Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care, which sets clinical guidelines to help family doctors and nurse practitioners decide whether and when to suggest screening, currently recommends routine screening starting at age 50 for people at average risk of breast cancer.
The task force is scheduled to revise its guidance this spring, but said in an email that a "detailed" review of clinical trials, international best practices and other data is still underway and did not confirm what the updated advice will be.
"The Canadian Task Force respects the Canadian Cancer Society and its important work," it said.
"We look forward to discussing the draft recommendations on screening for breast cancer from our comprehensive evidence review later this spring."
Even if the task force recommends that screening begin at age 40, it's ultimately up to the provinces and territories to fund it, the cancer society said.
It's also "critically important" for primary-care providers to talk with their patients about breast cancer screening starting at 40 and not wait until they turn 50, Krueckl said.
"We also know that Black women are being diagnosed before age 50 more frequently and with more advanced disease," she said.
One in eight women in Canada is expected to be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime, the cancer society says.
These are the starting ages for breast cancer screening in each province and territory, according to the Canadian Cancer Society:
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 9, 2024.
Convicted B.C. serial killer Robert Pickton, who preyed on women he lured from Vancouver's Downtown Eastside to his rural pig farm, has died.
The federal Liberal government learned Friday it might have to retreat on a proposal within its electoral reform legislation to delay the next vote by one week, after all opposition parties came out to say they can't support it.
The ex-husband of Tatjana Stefanski – the woman whose disappearance and death set the small town of Lumby, B.C., on edge last month – has been charged with her murder.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored two power-play goals as Edmonton smothered the Dallas Stars 3-1 to take a 3-2 lead in the NHL's Western Conference final on Friday.
A newborn is dead after being delivered via emergency C-section to a woman in police custody.
Jennifer Lopez has cancelled her 2024 North American tour, representatives for Live Nation confirmed to The Associated Press.
There's a luxury 'tree home' for sale in Calgary.
The Department of National Defence is moving approximately 1,000 employees out of an office building in Ottawa's Lowertown neighbourhood, citing safety concerns for its employees.
A man convicted of murdering a Toronto police officer more than four decades ago has been granted day parole for six months.
A hefty donation by a renowned local activist to the University of Winnipeg has created what is believed to be the most comprehensive two-spirit archives in all of Canada.
Leanne Van Bergen discovered a skulk of 10 baby foxes, and two mothers, had made themselves at home on her property in Beausejour.
An 81-year-old Waterloo, Ont. woman thought she’d never ride a horse again after a brain bleed led to severe physical complications.
A CP24 camera caught the moment a driver frantically got out of her car as it was being dragged by a truck on Avenue Road Wednesday afternoon.
Prince Edward Island is celebrating its first-ever International Day of Potato on Thursday.
The president of Covered Bridge Chips in New Brunswick is hoping to have his factory rebuilt for late 2025 following a devastating fire last year.
Students and staff at Winnipeg’s Westwood Collegiate had a unique problem to solve this month; how do you lead ducks to water from the school’s courtyard when 12 of them can’t fly yet?
Debby Lorinczy remembers her father as an amazing person and as a man who also made an amazing discovery.
Abigail Strate is a member of the Canadian national ski jumping team and an Olympic bronze medallist. She's also a certified beekeeper.