Eugénie Lacroix, a Quebec woman who was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 46, is advocating for increased access to early screening as she joins the chorus of voices calling for changes to the current breast cancer screening program in the province, which currently targets women aged 50 to 74.
Living with stage 4 breast cancer, Lacroix is using her personal journey to urge Quebec’s upcoming government to take action on recommendations to expand organized screening to younger women.
“If I had been able to undergo early screening, it is likely that the cancer would have been detected sooner, allowing for quicker initiation of chemotherapy and subsequent treatments,” Lacroix shared. “While the road ahead is long and challenging, breast cancer, even at stage 4, can still be treated.”
Lacroix’s battle with triple-negative breast cancer began in December 2024. Despite initial chemotherapy treatments, she was devastated to learn that the cancer had progressed to stage 4, spreading to her bones. Currently, she is undergoing palliative chemotherapy to manage the disease and slow the spread of metastases.
Quebec’s existing organized breast cancer screening program invites women aged 50 to 74, who are at average risk, to undergo mammograms every two years. However, in September 2025, the Institut national d’excellence en santé et en services sociaux (INESSS) recommended an incremental expansion of the program to include women aged 45 to 49.
The Quebec Ministry of Health and Social Services (MSSS) acknowledged both reports in September 2025 but has yet to confirm a timeline for extending organized screening to women aged 45 to 49.
In response to inquiries from CityNews, the ministry stated that efforts are in progress to meet the prerequisites necessary for potential program expansion. They emphasized the importance of addressing INESSS recommendations to enhance the current screening system before broadening access.
One of the key issues highlighted by the ministry is the program’s high recall rate, which can lead to unnecessary medical tests, patient anxiety, and increased costs. Additionally, some regions are exceeding the target wait times for mammograms and follow-up examinations.
Kimberly Carson, CEO of Breast Cancer Canada, raised concerns about Quebec’s delay in comparison to other provinces, where the screening age has been lowered to 40. Earlier detection, she emphasized, can significantly improve outcomes and reduce the need for aggressive treatments.
Carson stressed the importance of mammograms in detecting breast cancer and advocated for improvements in the existing system without hindering efforts to broaden access to screening.
Keyphrase: breast cancer screening expansion
