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If Dr. Chitra Narayanan had her way, more middle-aged women would be included in the Ontario Breast Screening Program.

That's because women under the age of 50 diagnosed with the illness often face a much more serious threat.

"Personally, I think (the screening age should be reduced to 40) because if you are diagnosed pre-menopausally, it is much more aggressive. You don't do as well," Narayanan told a Scarborough press conference Thursday when asked if she would like to see women over the age of 40 admitted to the breast screening program operated by Cancer Care Ontario.

Fortunately, a new breast cancer program launched in Scarborough is geared to certain women over the age of 40.

The Scarborough Breast Health Community Action Project aims to increase participation in breast cancer prevention and screening among immigrant and low-income women from the Cantonese-, Mandarin-, English-, Somali-, Tamil- and Urdu-speaking communities of Scarborough.

Many women from these communities have never been screened for breast cancer or have not been tested regularly. Some women may be isolated and unable to access medical care. Others with male doctors may be unwilling to be tested.

The program was announced at St. Paul's L'Amoreaux Centre, which received a cheque for $195,413 from the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. The funding will be used over two years to provide breast cancer awareness, prevention and early detection workshops in Scarborough.

Workshops will be held at many community venues such as community centre meetings, apartment or condo meetings or in shopping centres.

In addition, a critical feature of the program will feature multicultural peer leaders, women trained in culturally sensitive and language-appropriate methods of reaching out the community. They will even accompany women for breast cancer testing if requested.

Also, the Immigrant Women's Health Centre's mobile sexual health clinic bus will be used at various Scarborough sites to promote breast cancer education and screening.

The new program comes amid confusion about the role women should take in detecting breast cancer in themselves.

Last fall, the Canadian Cancer Society said monthly breast self-exams are a poor way of detecting cancer.

However, the society and officials at the press conference stressed women need to be aware of their bodies and routinely check for changes in their breast health, not just once a month.

"I tell my patients to strip head to toe and get to know yourself and bring it to our attention (if you notice any changes)," Narayanan said. "You have to be proactive. You have to take care of your own health."

Natalie Gierman, manager of grants and partnerships with the Ontario chapter of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, agreed.

"I think women being aware of their bodies is always useful but doing a specific (monthly self-exam) technique does not come naturally. It was hard for women to do it properly," she said.

"It's about (continuous) self-awareness. If you detect anything different, go to your doctor."

Women should contact a doctor if they notice any changes in the size or shape of their breasts, swelling under the armpits or below the collarbone, changes or discharge in the nipples or any redness, skin changes, dimpling or lumps or thickening in their breasts.

The new program comes at a critical time. An estimated 22,300 Canadian women were diagnosed with breast cancer last year, according to the foundation.

One in nine Canadian women is expected to develop breast cancer during her lifetime, a staggering increase from 1970 when one in 20 could expect a breast cancer diagnosis.

The chances of getting breast cancer increases after the age of 50.

When it is detected and treated early, there is a good chance it can be cured.

In addition to St. Paul's, Scarborough's new program includes partnerships with the Agincourt Community Services Association, Toronto Public Health, the Immigrant Women's Health Centre, Quantum Medical Imaging Services and West Hill Community Services.

For more information about the program, contact Elsa Uy, project co-ordinator at St. Paul's, by e-mail at elsa@splc.ca or by calling 416-493-3333 ext. 227.