As it pertains to screening, because that's why we're here today discussing these guidelines, I firmly believe that Canadian women should be allowed to self-refer and be included in a screening program starting at the age of 40. I also believe that women over the age of 74 who want to participate should be able to continue to do so. There are a lot of women in their later seventies who are in great health and would like to have the right to detect their breast cancer early too.
I believe that women who have breast density should know that. I think that's a major risk factor. I didn't know that I had dense breasts until my pathology results came back. How would I ever know that was a risk for me if I had never had a mammogram before my cancer diagnosis?
In my opinion, that's what will empower women and allow them to have these discussions with their family doctors—for those of us who are lucky enough to have family doctors, because, as we know, there are a lot of Canadians without family doctors right now.