Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I want to state a quote I found at the Public Health Agency of Canada. The “breast cancer death rate peaked in 1986 and has [declined] since.” However, there has been a reduction in death rates due to “the impact of screening and improvements in treatment for breast cancer”. That's according to the Public Health Agency of Canada.
My question is going to be for you, Dr. Anna. I love your name.
You have been a supporter of organized screening for women under the age of 50. You have noted that, “There is a significant increase in survival for women if they live in a province with an organized screening program with self-referral and annual recall for women in their 40s”. You also mention that 16% of breast cancer occurs in women between 40 and 50 years of age.
Can you please help us understand the importance of screening? I know that you're an advocate of it. I really appreciate that as a woman, because I think we need to make sure that women deserve to live and deserve to have the screening. Without us, they wouldn't be here. Let's be honest.
I really love what you're saying and I love what Dr. Gordon is saying. I think you guys are on the same path. Could you please elaborate on why we can save more women if we implement more screening at an earlier age?