08/14/2026
Another client was in this week with a >5cm mass that was missed by her mammogram. 🗣️Women with dense breasts need supplemental screening; this announcement gives women something concrete to take to their doctor and demand MORE 🩵
DOES YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER KNOW ABOUT THE NEW RECOMMENDATIONS FOR DENSE BREASTS?
Family doctors and nurse practitioners have an enormous amount of new research, guidelines and technology to keep up with. They may not yet be aware that new Canadian recommendations call for supplemental screening for women with dense breasts.
The Canadian Society of Breast Imaging (CSBI) recently published recommendations developed by leading breast imaging experts, including DBC's Medical Advisor, Dr. Paula Gordon.
For women at average risk with Category C or D breast density, the CSBI recommends that supplemental screening be offered, in order of preference:
➡️ MRI every 2 years or
➡️ Contrast-enhanced mammography (CEM) every 2 years or
➡️ Ultrasound annually
Why does this matter? Dense breast tissue can hide cancer on a mammogram. Supplemental screening can find additional cancers that mammography misses.
Access remains a challenge in many parts of Canada. But that makes it even more important for healthcare providers to know about these recommendations and to send referrals for their patients with Category C and D breast density.
Demand matters. When the need is documented through referrals, it helps demonstrate the need for greater screening capacity.
And capacity can change. In Ontario, for example, new MRI clinics covered by OHIP are expected to open next year.
If you are told there isn't enough evidence to support supplemental screening for dense breasts, ask your healthcare provider to look at the CSBI recommendations with you. The evidence is why radiology organizations in Canada, the United States and Europe recommend supplemental screening for women with dense breasts.
Your healthcare provider may not have seen these new recommendations yet. Bring them with you. Start the conversation. Advocate for the screening you need.
👉 Read and share the published CSBI recommendations:
https://academic.oup.com/jbi/article/8/1/1/8471622
Please send any questions in the comments or text us at 416 809 7976.