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Cancer Prevention and Screening |
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40-50% of Ontarians will develop cancer in their lifetime. Many of these cancers can be prevented.
Test your knowledge about cancer screening. (PDF)
Cancer screening is a clinical test or examination done on a person who does not have any symptoms. Having regular breast, cervical, colorectal and prostate screening tests can find cancer early, before it has had a chance to spread. Cervical and colorectal screening tests can also find abnormal cells before they become cancer. When cancer is detected early and treated, there are more treatment options and a better chance of survival.
Talk to your health care provider about these tests. Depending on your personal and family history, you may need to be screened earlier or more often. To find out when to get screened, use the Time to Screen tool.
Be Screened for Cancer (PDF)
| Type of Cancer |
Who should be screened? |
Screening method and schedule |
| Breast |
All women * |
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| Women age 40 to 49 |
- Talk to your health care provider about having a mammogram
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| Women age 50 and over |
- Mammogram every 2 years, or as recommended by your health care provider
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| Cervical |
All women |
- Pap test every year, starting within 3 years of first sexual activity
- If tests are normal for 3 years in a row, Pap tests can be done every 2-3 years
- Continue Pap tests until at least age 70
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| Colorectal |
Average risk men and women age 50 and over |
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| Men and women with a family history of colorectal cancer |
- Colonoscopy at age 50, or ten years earlier than the age at which a parent, brother, sister or child was diagnosed, whichever occurs first
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| Prostate |
Men age 50 and over |
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* As a woman, you are also encouraged to:
Public Health Nurses can provide consultation, education, resources, and links to screening services.
Get healthier…One step at a time.
Get checked for cancer.
For more information call
Toronto Health Connection at 416-338-7600.
Last updated July 2011
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