What screening does is it diagnoses cancers earlier. Screen-detected cancers are often only four millimetres wide. They're cancers that are detected before you can feel them. Smaller cancers, by definition, are at an earlier stage. Earlier-stage cancers, by definition, have better outcomes and less-intensive treatments.
In terms of why you should have an organized program, if that screening happens within an organized program, that means that a woman can self-refer. This is key in this day and age, where a lot of women do not have access to a family doctor or where a family doctor may be a barrier to screening. The family doctor is hearing that the task force says, “Don't screen.” The woman comes and says, “Can I be screened?” and the doctor says, “You don't need to be.”
Women in organized programs get recalls. We're all busy. Life gets a hold of you. The program sends you a letter and says to remember to come for your mammogram this year.
There are quality controls within organized screening programs as well. There are metrics that are followed in terms of the quality of mammograms, reading, follow-up and all of those issues. That's why organized programs are so key. With our current national guidelines, there are no organized programs for women in their forties across the country. It is completely dependent on the province you live in.