Closing the Gaps: Canadians Call for More Consistent Breast Cancer Care From Screening Through Survivorship

New national survey data reveals strong public support for more coordinated access to screening, timely diagnosis, personalized treatment and ongoing care after treatment.

TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Breast Cancer Canada, a national charity dedicated to saving lives through research, today releases new survey data showing public support for a more coordinated approach to breast cancer care, from earlier access to screening and timely diagnosis through personalized treatment and survivorship.

Breast cancer is not one disease. It consists of more than 50 distinct types, each with different biological characteristics and personalized treatment considerations. Yet access to screening, treatment and specialized care can vary across Canada based on geography, healthcare systems and local practices.

The new national survey points to a clear desire for greater consistency and coordination in breast cancer care. The implementation of Canadian standards and continued investment in research can help ensure that breast cancer care is guided by clinical expertise, research evidence and patient needs, regardless of where a person lives in the country.

The Patient Continuum: Closing the Gaps at Every Stage

Canadians see gaps across the full breast cancer journey, from screening and diagnosis through treatment and survivorship.

• Screening: 82% of Canadians support a single national standard that would guarantee breast screening beginning at age 40.
• Diagnosis: 94% support public access to innovative approaches to breast cancer detection, including emerging technologies such as liquid biopsy.
• Treatment: 75% of Canadians support the development of a fully coordinated national breast cancer treatment framework, to reduce disparities in equity and access.
• Survivorship: Canadians agree that greater investment is needed in care that continues after active treatment. Surveillance to reduce recurrence risk is identified as a priority by nearly 70% of respondents.

Grounding Care in Evidence and Expertise

Canada has the clinical expertise, research capacity and patient insights needed to close these gaps, but greater consistency is needed to ensure Canadians can access evidence-based care.

Expert Care	Total
I believe that it is crucial to include breast cancer experts with a medical background in the development of federal guidelines.	91%
Establishing a single, aligned national standard that guarantees screening access starting at age 40 across all provinces is a critical step forward in breast cancer care.	82%
Canada currently needs a fully coordinated national breast cancer treatment framework, to reduce disparities in equity and access.	75%
More investment is needed into breast cancer research	80%

“Complexity cannot be the excuse for inconsistency. Breast cancer care has never been more precise, but precision only matters when patients can access it,” says Dr. Mita Manna, Medical Oncologist and Chair of the REAL Canadian Breast Cancer Alliance. “Every patient deserves access to the right information, the right diagnostic pathway and the right treatment for their individual diagnosis. This means bringing greater consistency to care across the country, while keeping the patient at the centre of every decision.”

From Treatment to Survivorship: A National Priority

Advances in breast cancer treatment mean more Canadians are living for years and decades following a breast cancer diagnosis. As a result, survivorship care is an increasingly important part of the breast cancer journey, including personalized surveillance, monitoring for recurrence, managing the long-term and late effects of treatment, and addressing ongoing physical and psychosocial health needs.

The survey shows strong support for making survivorship an integrated part of breast cancer care:

Investment in Survivorship	Total
I believe the cancer journey does not end when treatment is complete.	92%
All breast cancer patients should receive a medically supervised survivorship plan from their medical care team at the end of treatment.	83%
Beyond treatment, more investment is needed in patient surveillance reducing risk of recurrence	67%
Beyond treatment, more investment is needed in long-term side effects of cancer treatment	63%
Beyond treatment, more investment is needed to identify personalized care plans for ongoing medical needs and services	61%

“Finishing active treatment is not the end of a patient’s breast cancer journey,” said Kimberly Carson, CEO of Breast Cancer Canada. “Survivorship needs to be recognized as an integral part of breast cancer care, with personalized surveillance and follow-up planned from the outset and tailored to each patient’s individual needs. Closing these gaps means ensuring patients have ongoing support to monitor recurrence risk, manage the long-term effects of treatment and address their evolving medical needs."

Closing the Gaps in Breast Cancer Care

The survey findings underscore the need for greater consistency across the breast cancer journey, from screening and diagnosis through treatment and survivorship. While Canadians recognize progress in breast cancer care, 90% agree there is still progress to be made.

“Canada does not have a shortage of breast cancer expertise. The gap is making sure that the latest research is consistently translated into plans for every patient,” continues Carson. “We know what more personalized, evidence-based care looks like. The next step is making it the standard across the country. Closing the gaps means connecting the full patient journey and ensuring that every Canadian can benefit from the innovations that are changing and saving lives.”

About Breast Cancer Canada

Breast Cancer Canada is a national charity dedicated to saving lives through breast cancer research. As the only national organization with a clear mandate to fund research, advocate, and educate on precision oncology. Learn more at breastcancer.ca.

About the Survey

These findings are from a national survey conducted by Angus Reid Group on behalf of Breast Cancer Canada from September 15th to September 17th, 2026, among a representative sample of 1,501 online adult Canadians who are members of the Angus Reid Forum. The survey was conducted in English and French. For comparison purposes only, a probability sample of this size would carry a margin of error of +/-2.53 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.