Ontario Breast Cancer Screening Updates!

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, and we’ve got great news for people in Ontario! In October 2024, the Ontario Breast Screening Program (OBSP) lowered the starting age for routine breast screening from age 50 to age 40. That means that if you are 40 or older you can self-refer for mammograms. You will not need a doctor or nurse practitioner’s referral and the service is covered by OHIP. The OBSP offers breast screening to women, Two-Spirit people, trans people and nonbinary people ages 40 to 74 who:

• have no symptoms of breast cancer
• have no personal history of breast cancer
• have not had a mastectomy (surgery to remove breast tissue)
• have not had a screening mammogram within the last 11 months
• if transfeminine, have used feminizing hormones for at least 5 years in a row

 If you fit into any of these categories, are age 40-49 and have a primary care provider (family doctor or nurse practitioner), the OBSP does encourage having conversations with them about your risk and when to start screening.  If you do not have a primary care provider, you can call 811 or chat online with a Health811 navigator for advice.  

Once you are ready to make an appointment to get screened, you can call an Ontario Breast Screening Program location or call the appointment booking line at 1-800-668-9304.  You will likely have a wait time, from weeks to months, depending on where you live and where you book an appointment. You can check current wait times for breast cancer screening and then choose to book at a location that best fits your needs.  If you live in the North West or Hamilton Niagara Haldimand Brant regions of Ontario, you may be eligible for screening at an OBSP Screen for Life mobile cancer screening coach. In the North West you can call 1-807-684-7777 and in the Hamilton region you can call 1-855-338-3131 for more information and to book an appointment.

If you have never had a mammogram before, here is what you need to know to prepare for your appointment:

• Try to book an appointment for a time when your breasts are not tender.  For example, if you have regular menstrual cycles and tend to have breast tenderness close to the end of your menstrual cycle, book for a time when you would likely be at the beginning of your cycle.
• On the day of your mammogram, avoid using any deodorants, antiperspirants, lotions, creams or powders because they can affect the mammogram results.  It’s okay to be a little ashy and sweaty at your appointment :)
• Wear an outfit with an easily removable top, which you will be asked to remove for the mammogram.

 Mammograms can be uncomfortable, but are safe. Early detection is key, so screening is important, especially for Black folks who are at higher risk of more invasive and difficult to treat breast cancers. For more information about Black women and breast cancer, explore the Every Breast Counts hub at Women’s College Hospital. For more information about screening for breast cancer in Ontario check out the information on the Ontario Breast Screening Program website and for those 40-49 there’s a resource just for you!