The Québec Breast Cancer Screening Program offers a mammogram every two years to women between 50 and 69 years of age. These women receive a letter in the mail inviting them to make an appointment for a mammogram at a designated screening centre.
Québec Breast Cancer Screening Program | Gouvernement du Québec
To learn more:
One in eight women will develop breast cancer during their lifetime, making it the most common cancer among women. While the causes of breast cancer are still not known, research has identified certain factors that contribute to a statistical increase in risk:
Personal risks:
Family-related risks:
Modifiable risks:
Most women who develop breast cancer do not have any of the above-mentioned risk factors. Note, however, that the three most important risk factors are: being a woman, ageing and heredity.
Mammogram
The mammogram is the only screening method recognized by scientists to lower the risk of dying from breast cancer. It has been demonstrated that the risk of dying from breast cancer is reduced by about 40% among women between the ages of 50 to 69 who are screened for breast cancer with a mammogram.
Moreover, screening can lead to earlier detection of breast cancer, which increases the chances of being able to treat the cancer without major surgery, such as complete breast removal or chemotherapy.
Advantages, disadvantages and limitations of mammography
What is the medical imaging procedure?
Clinical breast examination
Studies have not been able to conclude that clinical breast examinations are sufficient on their own as a screening method. Clinical breast examinations can be performed by a clinician. It should be performed if a woman observes changes in her breasts.
Breast self-examination is not recommended as a screening method
Breast self-examination is a method taught to women that involves observing and touching their breasts every month. The objective is to detect a sign or a mass that could indicate the presence of breast cancer. Studies show, however, that this method does not reduce breast cancer mortality.
Nevertheless, women can observe changes in their breasts. If so, it is important that they contact their doctor immediately. This can occur even after a normal mammogram since certain cancers can escape detection with this screening method.
Contact your doctor immediately if:
As of the age of 50, every woman in Québec receives a personalized letter every two years inviting them to take part in the Québec Breast Cancer Screening Program (PQDCS). This letter includes the phone numbers needed to book an appointment for a mammogram at a designated screening centre in their region.
On the day of the exam:
Taking part in the program will allow you to:
Additional examinations
If the result of the mammogram is abnormal, the doctor may request further investigation, which will require additional examinations that are often offered at a designated investigation referral centre (CRID).
The most common investigation examinations are:
IMPORTANT: These examinations are for diagnostic purposes only. They do not mean that the person concerned has cancer. In the Laurentians, the results of these examinations are normal in 90% of cases.
Most designated screening centres offer access to screening mammograms.
Accessibility of each centre in the region for women with reduced mobility (in French only)
To find out the wait times for the designated screening centres in the region:
Wait times for mammograms and other examinations under the Québec Breast Cancer Screening Program (in French only)
Hôpital de Mont-Laurier CDD
Telephone: 819-440-4230
Fax: 819-440-4206
Centre multiservices de santé et de services sociaux d'Argenteuil CDD
Telephone: 450-562-3713
Fax: 450-566-3308
Hôpital de Saint-Jérôme CDD
Telephone: 450-431-8270
Fax: 450-431-8642
Centre multiservices de santé et de services sociaux de Sainte-Agathe (formerly Hôpital Laurentien) CDD
Telephone: 819-324-4036
Fax: 819-324-4067
Centre de Radiologie Imagix Saint-Eustache CDD
210-375, avenue Mathers
Saint-Eustache (Québec) J7P 4C1
Telephone: 514-866-6622
Toll-free: 1-866-916-6622
Fax: 450-473-0240
RadiologiX Saint-Sauveur CDD
70, rue Principale
Saint-Sauveur (Québec) J0R 1R6
Telephone: 514-228-5153.
Fax: 450-227-7503
Centre de radiologie Imagix Sainte-Thérèse CDD
104-233, rue Turgeon
Sainte-Thérèse (Québec) J7E 3J8
Telephone: 514-866-6622
Toll-free: 1-866-916-6622
Fax: 450-430-7556
RadiologiX Saint-Jérôme CDD
305, rue du Docteur-Charles-Léonard
Suite 102
Sainte-Jérôme (Québec) J7Y 0M9
Telephone : 514-228-5153
Toll-free: 1-833-818-5153
Fax: 514-548-2706
Hôpital de Saint-Eustache CRID
Telephone: 450-473-6811, ext. 42480
Toll-free: 1-888-234-3837, ext. 42480
Fax: 450-473-2369
Hôpital de Saint-Jérôme CRID
Telephone: 450-432-2777, ext. 27307
Toll-free: 1-866-963-2777, ext. 27307
Fax: 450-431-8522
If you wish to learn more about the Québec Breast Cancer Screening Program, please contact the Centre de coordination des services régionaux des Laurentides:
Telephone: 450-432-8728
Toll-free: 1-877-431-SEIN (7346)
Fax: 450-569-6303
Emotional support and psychologial resources in the Laurentians (in French only)
The main objective of the Québec Breast Cancer Screening Program is to reduce the number of deaths related to breast cancer by at least 25% over a 10-year period in women between 50 and 69 years of age.
To attain this objective, the program seeks to:
The program is regularly evaluated to ensure that it respects the highest quality standards.
In 2020-2021, the participation rate in the Québec Breast Cancer Screening Program reached 56.7% in the Laurentians compared to the provincial rate of 60%. The year 2020 was marked by the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to a significant drop in the number of mammograms performed.
Source: SI-PQDCS, INSPQ, as of May 13, 2022.
2009-2014 report on the Québec Breast Cancer Screening Program (in French only)
Les Maux qui courent Newsletters (in French only)