Cancer screening is for people who feel fine.
If you have any signs or symptoms, like lumps, pain or bleeding, see a doctor or nurse practitioner as soon as possible.
No Family Doctor? You Can still get checked for Cancer
Cancer screening is testing for people who may be at risk of getting cancer, but have no symptoms and generally feel fine. Getting screened for cancer can help find cancer early, before you feel sick and when it is easiest to treat.
In Ontario, most people can get regular tests to check for colon, cervical, lung and breast cancer.
ColonCancerCheck (CCC)
(Colorectal Screening)
Average Risk
A Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) checks your stool (poop) for tiny amounts of blood, which could be caused by colon cancer or some types of polyps.
An abnormal FIT result means there is blood in your stool. Having blood in your stool does not always mean you have cancer. A positive FIT test requires a colonoscopy.
You can get a FIT test by calling Health811 (dial 811 on your phone). They will mail the test to your home.
When you are done with the FIT kit, you can mail it back for free or drop it off at a Rexall near you.
Increased Risk
People with one first degree relative (parent, sibling, child) diagnosed with colon cancer before age 60, or two or more first degree relatives diagnosed with colorectal cancer at any age, should have a colonoscopy at age 40, or ten years before the youngest relative was diagnosed. These individuals should be screened with colonoscopy every 5 years.
Call Health 811 (dial 811 on your phone) to determine if FIT test or colonoscopy are right for you. If a colonoscopy is required, Health 811 will arrange for a requisition.
Ontario Breast Screening Program (OBSP)
(Breast Screening)
Average Risk
A mammogram is a low-dose x-ray that takes pictures of the inside of the breast.
To book a mammogram, call 1-800-668-9304 or click here to find a screening location near you.
You do not need a referral from a doctor or nurse practitioner.
High Risk
Eligible people can be screened once a year with mammogram and MRI. Breast MRI uses radio waves and a magnetic field to make images that can be viewed on a computer.
For the High Risk program, a referral from a doctor or nurse practitioner is required.
Call Health811 (dial 811 on your phone) to get help finding a doctor or nurse practitioner who can give you a referral.
Ontario Lung Screening Program (OLSP)
You may be eligible for lung cancer screening if you are between 55 to 80 years of age and smoke cigarettes and other forms of smoked commercial tobacco for 20 or more years over your lifetime (not necessarily in a row). You may still qualify for screening even if you have already quit smoking.
Screening is completed by taking a low dose CT scan of your chest. Further information is found here.
A navigator will meet with you over the phone to do a risk assessment. During the risk assessment, the navigator will ask you questions about your health history, your family history of cancer and your history of smoking. The results of the risk assessment will determine if you qualify for lung cancer screening.
To find out if you qualify for lung cancer screening:
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Call the Central Ontario Lung Screening Program at 905-895-4521 extension 6577 to make an appointment with a navigator, or
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Ask your family doctor or nurse practitioner to refer you to the Ontario Lung Screening Program
Ontario Cervical Screening Program
(Cervical Screening)
An HPV test, which used to be called a Pap test is done by a family doctor, nurse practitioner or nurse. They insert a small swab inside the vagina to take a sample of the cervix.
The sample is sent to a lab to check for types of HPV that can sometimes cause cervical cancer.
You should get screened if you are age 25 and older and have ever had sexual contact with another person.
If you have unusual symptoms like different bleeding or discharge from the vagina, please talk to a doctor or nurse practitioner.
People need to get cervical screening even if they:
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Have had the HPV vaccine
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Feel Healthy
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Have been through menopause
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Have not had any family members with cervical cancer
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Have had sexual contact with only 1 person
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Have had the same sexual partner for a long time
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Have not had sexual contact in a long time
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Have only had protected sexual contact
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Are in a same-sex relationship
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Are pregnant
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Have had a subtotal hysterectomy and kept their cervix
Pop-Up Cervical Screening Events
Overdue for cervical screening and don't have a family doctor? Click the posters below for details of pop up clinics in your community! Tests are delivered by a primary care health care provider.
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If you do not have a family doctor or nurse practitioner, you can use the map below to find a clinic near you who offers HPV tests for cervical screening. Please contact the clinics directly for appointment availability.
Cervical Screening Locations
Cervical Screening Locations
Clinic Name | City | Phone | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
Allaura Medical Centre - Walk-in Clinic | Aurora | 905-713-1717 | http://Allauramedical.com |
Central Bolton Walk-In Clinic | Bolton | 905-951-1234 | http://www.centralboltonwalkinclinic.ca |
Bolton Walk-in Clinic | Bolton | 905-857-3260 | http://www.boltonwalkinclinic.com |
Trinity Medical and Travel Clinic - East Gwillimbury | East Gwillimbury | 905-895-0008 | http://www.trinmedi.com |
Keswick Medical And Wellness Clinic - Medical Walk-in and Nurses Clinic | Keswick | 905-535-5556 | http://www.keswickmedclinic.com |
Carefirst Mobile Cervical Screening Clinic | Markham | 416-502-2323 ext 6191 | https://www.picktime.com/home/carefirstmobilecervicalscreening |
North GTA Health Centre - Newmarket - Walk-in clinic / Family Practice | Newmarket | 905-235-2620 | http://www.northgtahealth.ca/medical-clinic#WalkInClinic |
York Medical - Richmond Hill | Richmond Hill | 905-770-9096 | http://www.medicentres.com |
Elgin Mills Crossing Medical Clinic | Richmond Hill | 905-770-7143 | http://elgincrossing.ca |
Yorkdale Medical Clinic | Richmond Hill | 905-770-9057 | http://yorkdalemed.com |
Community Health Clinic - Stouffville | Stouffville | 905-472-7658 | https://eyrndohtich.inputhealth.com/ |
Georgina Nurse Practitioner Led-Clinic | Sutton | 905-722-3251 | http://www.gnplc.ca |
Chippewas of the Georgina Island - Health Centre | Sutton West | 705-437-4242 | http://www.georginaisland.com/community-services/health/ |
SunMed Walk-in Clinic and Family Practice | Thornhill | 905-597-6100 | |
Community Walk-in Clinic | Thornhill | 905-731-5662 | http://www.communitywalkinclinic.ca |
MCI Doctor's Office - Thornhill - Green Lane | Thornhill | 905-764-0188 | http://wellclinics.ca/properties/well-health-medical-centres-thornhill/ |
MCI Doctor's Office (The) - Thornhill - Steeles Ave W | Thornhill | 905-738-6699 | http://wellclinics.ca/ontario/thornhill/mci-main-exchange |
Enhanced Care Medical Clinic - Thornhill | Thornhill | 905-707-7309 | http://www.enhancedcare.ca |
Medione Physicians - Vaughan | Vaughan | 289-807-0596 | http://medionephysicians.com |
Paywand Medical Centre - Walk-in Clinic and Family Practice | Vaughan | 289-304-4666 | http://paywandmedicalcentre.com |
MCI Doctor's Office (The) - Woodbridge - Windflower Gate | Woodbridge | 905-856-2100 | http://wellclinics.ca/properties/well-health-medical-centres-woodbridge/ |
Ansley Grove Medical Centre | Woodbridge | 905-605-8444 | |
Marycroft Clinic (Inside Woodbridge Pharmacy) | Woodbridge | 905-850-2224 | http://www.marycroftclinic.com |
Cityview Medical Centre | Woodbridge | 905-553-4499 | |
Vaughan Medical Centre | Woodbridge | 905-605-7070 ext 1 |
Need a Family Doctor?
Health Care Connect is a program launched by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care to help Ontarians without a family health care provider find one.
To register please call 1-800-445-1822 or register on line by clicking here.
Health Advice Day or Night
Formerly known as Telehealth Ontario, Health811 offers a tool for individuals to call 811 and speak to a qualified health care professional.
Services include:
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Speak to or chat online with a registered nurse
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Finding a primary care provider
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Get an initial assessment and health advice
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Use a symptom assessment tool to understand their health concerns and how to access care
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Get connected to mental health and addictions services
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Find local health services, such as home and community care or caregiver support
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Get connected to a specialized health professional if they have concerns about food and healthy eating, breastfeeding or how to quit smoking
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Get general guidance through their health care journey
For more information on Health811 click here.