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Cancer Prevention and Screening |
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Cancer screening is the regular examination of a person who does not have any symptoms. 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.
Be Aware - Be Screened
(PDF file size 29KB)
| Type of Cancer |
Who should be screened? |
Screening method and schedule |
| Breast |
All women * |
- Clinical breast exam by a trained health care provider at your regular check-up, every 1-2 years
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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.
For more information call
Toronto Health Connection at 416-338-7600.
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