167 Centre St. Shelburne, ON L9V3R8
Tel: 519 925 0017
Cancer Screening
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The Ontario Breast Screening Program (OBSP) recommends that average risk women, Two-Spirit, trans and nonbinary people ages 40 to 74 get screened with mammography every 2 years.
People ages 40 to 74 are eligible for screening through the OBSP if they:
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have no new breast cancer symptoms
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have no personal history of breast cancer
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have not had a mastectomy
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have not had a screening mammogram within the last 11 months
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If transfeminine, have used feminizing hormones for at least 5 years in a row
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OBSP recommends that people ages 30 to 69 who meet the High Risk OBSP eligibility criteria get screened every year with both mammography and breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (or screening breast ultrasound if MRI is not medically appropriate).
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A doctor referral is no longer required to book a screening mammogram. Simply contact your nearest OBSP site to book your screening appointment once due!
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Ontario Cervical Screening Program recommends that anyone with a cervix (women, transmasculine and non-binary people) who is or ever has been sexually active have cervical cancer screening with HPV testing every 5 years starting at age 25. You can stop regular screening at the age of 70 if you have had previous negative test results.
Getting screened for human papillomavirus (HPV) with a cervical screening test every 5 years is as effective as getting screened with a Pap test every 3 years.
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People who have had a hysterectomy should talk to their doctor or nurse practitioner to see if they need to continue cervical screening.
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The kind of screening test you get depends on whether you are at average risk of getting colorectal cancer or at increased risk of getting colorectal cancer.
Someone is at average risk if they are 50 to 74 years old with no first-degree relative (parent, sibling or child) who has been diagnosed with colorectal cancer. It is recommend they complete a Fecal immunochemical test (FIT) every 2 years from age 50 to 74.
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Someone is at increased risk if they have a family history of colorectal cancer that includes 1 or more first-degree relatives (parent, sibling or child) with the disease. Screening should be with a colonoscopy starting at age 50, or 10 years earlier than the age your relative was diagnosed with colorectal cancer, whichever comes firs
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People may qualify for lung cancer screening if they:
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are 55 to 74 years old, and
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have smoked cigarettes every day for at least 20 years (not necessarily 20 years in a row, which means there could be times when they did not smoke)
Healthcare providers may refer patients to the program, or individuals may contact an Ontario Lung Screening Program site hospital on their own to have the referral inclusion criteria assessed.
Organized screening initiatives can detect cancer at an earlier stage, resulting in improved health outcomes. Cancer Care Ontario manages four cancer screening programs: for breast, cervical, colorectal, and lung cancers.
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We strongly recommend our patients to familiarize themselves with the available screening programs and criteria. Staying up to date with screening tests gives you the best chance of early detection.
Cancer Care Ontario sends letters to people for breast, cervical and colorectal cancers to:
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invite them to start screening
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remind them when it is time for their next screening test
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tell them their screening test results
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tell them what to do if they have an abnormal test result
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Individuals are automatically enrolled if they have a valid Ontario health card. Communications are sent to the address associated with your health card and thus it is important to keep your information updated.
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Please keep track of your screening tests and contact the office when you become due for your next screening test so that we may assist you in arranging it.
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