Canada has breast-screening guidelines that family doctors use to keep women safe. The problem is that those guidelines are flawed, outdated, and put women aged 40-74 at risk for later-stage breast cancer diagnoses.

Later-stage diagnoses mean more goodbyes, and we won't let that stand.

In the United States, the same guidelines were deemed too dangerous. Yet, in Canada we continue to use them, putting women?s lives at risk.

A panel of non-breast cancer experts created these guidelines, including a chiropractor, psychologist, and kidney specialist. They did not consider current scientific evidence and their recommendations differ in every way from those of breast cancer specialists.

Canadian breast screening guidelines are dangerous:

1. 17% of breast cancers occur in the 40s and are more aggressive. Yet, the guidelines do not recommend mammograms until age 50.
2. Women 50 and over should ideally be screened annually or at the least every 2 years. Yet, the guidelines recommend every 2-3 years.
3. Black, Asian, and Hispanic women are at higher risk of aggressive breast cancer in their 40s. Yet, the guidelines do not consider racial differences.
4. Mammograms miss up to 40% of cancers in women with dense breasts. Yet, the guidelines do not recommend extra screening for women with dense breasts.
5. Self-examination finds many breast cancers. Yet, the guidelines do not recommend self-exams.

These guidelines put Canadian women at risk for later-stage cancer diagnoses, harsher treatments and death.

Send this email to tell Canada?s Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos to:

1. Immediately suspend the use of the current breast screening guidelines.
2. Create a credible and accountable panel with breast cancer specialists to produce safer guidelines.