TORONTO - Women in Ontario will benefit from up to 90,000 more breast cancer screenings, thanks to $15 million in funding over 3 years.

"We're pleased to see breast cancer on the government's agenda and high risk women highlighted in the Ontario Budget, given that 1-in-4 high risk women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. There is a real opportunity to make a difference and to save lives," said Sandra Palmaro, CEO of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation — Ontario Region.

Details about the funding still need to be worked out, but the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation — Ontario Region hopes that the program will address the need for increased and timely access to MRI screening for high-risk women. They also hope that the program will provide information to women and health care providers to identify who fits into the high risk category.

It is believed that more lives would be saved by allowing all women 40-49 into the Ontario Breast Screening Program, versus only high risk women. Today, one of every six women who dies from breast cancer is diagnosed in their 40s.

"We know that the earlier breast cancer is detected, the more positive the outcome. But let's be clear: today 80% of women are average risk. There is no question that the benefit of screening women 40-49 far outweighs the risks and we believe that women in Ontario deserve the same level of care as women in other parts of the country," Palmaro said.