We asked. You answered.
We asked women with dense breasts across Canada to share their breast cancer screening experiences — what they were told, what follow-up they received, and what happened next.

What we heard was highly concerning.

40–50% of women eligible for breast cancer screening have dense breasts — a common finding that both increases breast cancer risk and reduces the sensitivity of mammography. While breast density notification now exists across much of Canada, our findings show that notification isn’t consistently translating into risk-appropriate follow-up care.

In a national survey of 1,100 Canadian women with dense breasts, we found:

▪️ Awareness is high: 95% knew density can hide cancer; 86% knew ultrasound/MRI can detect additional cancers
▪️ Communication is not: only 54% recalled discussing breast density with a healthcare provider
▪️ Options aren’t explained: only 38% recalled discussing supplemental screening
▪️ Follow-up is missing: 54.5% reported no additional imaging after mammography
▪️ Access is uneven: many described denial, long waits, or paying out-of-pocket — with care shaped by geography, not clinical need

Underscreened & Underserved documents a national reality: breast density still isn’t systematically built into screening communication, referral practices, or program-level policy in Canada — leaving too many women at risk of missed cancers, delayed diagnosis, and unequal access to care.

Read the report here https://www.densebreastscanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Awareness-and-Access-to-Supplemental-Screening-Among-Women-with-Dense-Breasts-in-Canada.pdf