Alberta to Lower Routine Breast Cancer Screening Age, Increasing Access to Publicly Funded Mammograms

A mammogram room is pictured inside the Regina Breast Health Centre in Regina on April 14, 2025. The Canadian Press/Jeremy Simes

Alberta is lowering the age for routine breast cancer screening to 40, in a move the government says will increase access to cost-free self-referral for publicly funded mammograms.

The new policy is being rolled out over the coming year and is expected to be fully in place by next April, according to Preventative Health Minister Adriana LaGrange’s April 22 announcement. She added that the move is expected to improve health outcomes via earlier diagnosis and higher overall screening rates.