This misinformation campaign extends beyond doctors' offices to the way the task force frames its methods, communicates in public forums and dismisses legitimate concerns.
The task force misled the public by claiming that experts were meaningfully included in the guideline update process. However, expert advisers revealed that their input was often dismissed, with the task force dictating which evidence to consider, including outdated trials from 40 to 60 years ago that don't reflect current technology or treatment advancements. These experts were excluded from voting on the guidelines. The task force cast doubt on the integrity of these experts in the media by suggesting they have conflicts of interest. The task force claimed only its members are neutral.
In reality, even before the evidence review began, the task force co-chair stated to the media that the guideline against screening in the forties did not need to change. This resulted in a predetermined outcome orchestrated by a panel with a troubling anti-screening bias. PHAC refused to remove the co-chair despite repeated evidence of her lack of objectivity.
The task force would have Canadians believe that early cancer detection is unimportant because we have effective treatments. In reality, the stage of diagnosis is critical to survival, regardless of treatment advancements.
Data from Statistics Canada contradicts the task force's claims. When aggressive triple negative cancer is detected at stage 1, the five-year survival rate is 96%, but at stage 4, it plummets to 7%. Early detection is life-saving.
The task force misled Canadians by claiming that it included current evidence in its update. In reality, its grading system undervalues current observational studies, as well as studies that highlight critical trends, like the rising incidence of breast cancer in younger women and the racial disparities. The U.S. task force recognized the credibility of this evidence and lowered the screening age to 40.
Although our task force acknowledged that many ethnic groups face earlier onset and higher mortality rates from breast cancer, it chose to leave the guidelines unchanged and discriminatory, calling for more research while ignoring the existing data that demands immediate action.
Our examples today show how the task force misled the public and health care professionals, operating without accountability, ethical oversight and scientific integrity. The evidence for screening at age 40 is irrefutable. Current guidelines must be suspended and revised to reflect modern inclusive evidence. We must act now to stop avoidable late-stage breast cancer diagnoses and the needless loss of life of Canadians.
Thank you for allowing me the honour of testifying today, and thank you for all the work you're doing for the well-being of Canadians.