One in nine Saskatchewan women will develop breast cancer over the course of her lifetime. The greatest risk factors for developing breast cancer are being a woman, and getting older. There is no known method to prevent breast cancer. There are methods to detect breast cancer at the earliest possible stage of its development .
Early detection means less invasive treatment and an improved life expectancy.
A screening program tests people for a disease or condition before they have symptoms of the disease. The Saskatchewan Screening Program for Breast Cancer is a province-wide program for the early detection of breast cancer using screening mammography. Mammography is a x-ray of the breast. The x-ray can detect very small cancers often years before a lump can be felt. It is the best way to detect breast cancer at an early stage.