Breast cancer screenings now easier to access at age 40 in most of Canada, though experts warn of more false positives

Ontario women in their 40s can now begin booking their own mammograms, with Canada’s most populous province joining the growing ranks of jurisdictions making breast cancer screening more readily available to a younger age group.Ontario Health Minister Sylvia Jones announced last fall that the province would allow women to refer themselves for breast cancer screening starting at age 40 – a change from the past policy of requiring women aged 40 to 49 to get a doctor’s referral to access the procedure. Ontario women aged 50 to 74 already receive letters in the mail inviting them to book a mammogram every two years.