Breast/Chest Cancer

Breast cancer is the most diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death in Canadian women and people with breasts.^{Footnote 1}

1 in 8 Canadian women and people with breasts will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime.

Screening mammograms can help detect breast cancer early before it spreads to nearby tissues or organs. Early detection can increase treatment options, reduce complications and improve survival.

Screening

Who should be screened for breast cancer?

Women and people with breast tissue are recommended to get a mammogram every two years starting at age 50. 

Start speaking to your clinician about breast cancer screening when you turn 40 years of age, to discuss when the right time is for you to start screening. Screening may be considered earlier depending on individual risk factors.

 Some of the factors that put you at higher risk for breast cancer include:

• Received chest radiation therapy before age 30
• Personal history of breast cancer or strong family history of breast cancer
• Genetics or a gene mutation that increases your risk (for example, BRCA 1 or 2 gene mutation, Li-Fraumeni syndrome or tumor suppressor gene mutations)
• Jewish Ashkenazi ancestry

What is a mammogram?

A mammogram is a special X-ray of your breast tissue. It is done at a diagnostic imaging center that uses special equipment; it cannot be done with a regular x-ray machine.  

How to get screened?

Contact your Care Delivery Unit (CDU) to request a mammogram. 

Where will I be screened?

A Canadian Forces Health Services (CFHS) clinician will refer you with a requisition to a local diagnostic imaging center that performs mammography.

Results

Your results will be sent to your primary healthcare provider. If your results show an abnormality, your healthcare provider will contact you to discuss the results and the next steps in your care. If you are not contacted it usually means your mammogram was normal, however, if you are concerned you can contact your CDU to request the results. 

In some provinces, women can directly request a mammogram at a diagnostic imaging center without a requisition or referral. If you are able to do this, please ensure your results are sent to your CDU or military healthcare provider. 

What are the signs and symptoms of breast cancer?

Signs and symptoms may include:  

• Pain in the breast or nipple
• Lump in the breast or armpit
• Change in breast size, shape or swelling of the breast
• Change in breast skin, such as dimpling or thickening
• Nipple discharge, other than milk
• Nipple pitting or changes, including inversion
• Change in breast color
• Redness, rash or flaky skin around the nipple
• Unusual weight loss, loss of appetite, or fatigue

Reducing your risk of developing breast cancer

Some of the risk factors for developing breast cancer are outside of your control, like age or genetics. However, there are things you can do to reduce your overall risk of developing breast cancer. These include: 

• Maintain a healthy diet - eat meals that are rich in vegetables, fruits and whole grains
• Get regular exercise – aim for close to 2.5 hours or more of moderate intensity exercise per week
• Avoid being sedentary – being sedentary can increase the risk of developing some cancers, including breast cancer
• Be wise with alcohol consumption – alcohol can increase the risk of cancer; if you drink alcohol, visit Canada’s low-risk alcohol drinking guidelines for information on recommended low-risk limits 

 

For more information on breast cancer visit: 

Canadian Cancer Society at: https://cancer.ca/en/cancer-information/cancer-types/breast