Clinics located in Port Colborne & Ridgeway

Screen for Cancer

Early stages of cancer can be difficult to see or feel. Regular screening can find cancers sooner, so you get treatment faster. In Ontario, our core screening programs are free. This is because studies show these tests really do save many lives.

Interactive Screening Tool: Time to screen?

Free cancer screening

Cancer screening tests

Your health care provider can recommend several tests to screen for different cancer types. If you have not had a fecal occult blood test in the past 2 years, or pap test in the past 3 years, please book an appointment with dr. Remington or Laura. Please note: if you have had a colonoscopy in the past 10 years, you may not need a fecal occult blood test

  • at home fecal test (colon cancer)
  • mammogram (breast cancer)
  • pap test (cervical cancer)

Self Exams

Completing regular self exams are a vital aspect of preventing cancer. This increases your chances of catching cancers early on in their development, which generally means more successful treatment options.

Unfortunately not all cancers are discernible to the touch, which makes it important to recognize the general warning signs.

Important self exams

  • Skin exams – know the warning signs, and find more information here.
  • Testicular exam – complete regular testicular exams, contact your doctor or PA if you have any questions or concerns.
  • Breast exam – current the Canadian Task Force of Preventative Medicine says “We recommend not advising women to routinely practice breast self-examination”, this means that regular mammograms are the best way to screen for breast cancer at this time.

The Ontario Breast Screening Program should reach out to you once you are 50 years of age, and will continue to contact you every 2 years to complete your regular mammogram. 

You may qualify for annual screening, if answer “res to any of the following criteria, please contact us to discuss referrals to the High Risk Ontario Breast Screening Program

  • You are known to have a gene mutation (e.g., BRCA1, BRCA2)
  • You have a first-degree relative (parent, brother, sister or child) of someone who has a gene mutation (e.g., BRCA1, BRCA2)
  • Have a personal or family history of breast or ovarian cancer
  • Have had radiation therapy to the chest to treat another cancer or condition (e.g., Hodgkin lymphoma) before age 30 and at least 8 years ago

Source: www.ontario.ca