Cancer foundation pleased with breast screening change

The Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation is applauding the provincial government's decision to broaden the availability breast cancer screening.

In Tuesdays budget the government announced it is lowering the age that women are eligible for mammography, with a referral from a primary care giver, from 50 to 40.

"We've been advocating for screening at 40 now for quite some time, for 40 and up, regular screening that is because early detection is your best defence against breast cancer. The earlier you are diagnosed, the more effectively it can be treated," said Paula Tessier, a development officer with thefoundation in St. John's.

Liberal MHA Yvonne Jones, who has been fighting breast cancer herself, has called for screening for younger women.

Finance Minister Tom Marshall said the decision was made following a recommendation from the Provincial Cancer Control Advisory Committee.

The budget also revealed that government is adding a new mammography unit at James Paton Memorial Hospital in Gander. The new policy will also be implemented at existing mammography units in St. John's and Corner Brook.

Tessier said she wants to continue working with the provincial government to make screening more available in rural areas as well.