Early detection is crucial in the fight against breast cancer. Screening mammograms have been proven to be the best way to detect breast cancer or tumours early, possibly before symptoms are noticeable.
Screening for Life Program
Alberta’s provincial screening program, Screening for Life, encourages patients to make screening mammograms a part of their regular health routine.
The goal of the program is to make it as easy as possible for patients to get mammograms to screen for the development of breast cancer. Often, patients don’t visit their healthcare practitioner until something feels off or they are presenting with symptoms.
By encouraging routine screening mammography, we can detect abnormalities before a patient presents with any symptoms – sometimes as early as 2-3 years before a lump might be noticeable.
In the fight against breast cancer, 2-3 years can have a significant impact on treatment.
Screening Mammography Self-Referral Guidelines
Under Alberta’s Screening for Life program, patients in target age groups can “self-refer” for a screening mammogram. This means you do not need a requisition from your healthcare practitioner to book a screening mammogram. If you meet the age requirement, there are also other factors to consider.
Age Guidelines for Self-Referral
- Under age 40 – You can not self-refer.
- Ages 40 to 44 – Starting April 1, 2027, you can self-refer. Until that date, you need a one-time requisition from your healthcare practitioner.
- Ages 45 to 74 – You can self-refer for screening mammograms.
- Ages 75 and older – You need a new requisition from your healthcare practitioner. After that, you can self-refer.
Other Criteria for Self-Referral:
- No breast symptoms, including pain, lumps, redness, nipple discharge, etc.
- No previous breast cancer diagnosis.
- No breast surgery or breast biopsy within the last year.
- Must have a valid Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan number (Alberta health-care card)
Screening mammography is the only exception in medical imaging where you can book an appointment without a requisition from a healthcare practitioner because of the provincial initiative (provided you meet the criteria discussed above).
MIC’s Recommendation
MIC Medical Imaging encourages all our patients aged 40-74 to speak with their healthcare practitioner about the potential benefits vs. risks of breast cancer screening. Your practitioner will know your medical history and can help you consider screening options.
Always Remember
While mammograms are a fantastic screening tool, they do not catch everything. Check with your healthcare practitioner if something doesn’t feel normal to you – even if your screening mammogram shows nothing unusual.
If you have dense breast tissue, you can always ask for a combination of breast imaging techniques for your next appointment.
Combining mammography and breast ultrasound options like ABUS or HHUS can significantly improve screening effectiveness in women with high breast density.
However, you will need a requisition from your practitioner to book an ABUS or HHUS with your screening mammogram.
Any patient with dense breast tissue should strongly consider advocating for combination appointments with mammography and breast ultrasound. Learn more about how breast density can impact screening efforts.