We are proudly part of the Ontario Breast SCreening Program.
All women over 50 years (and over 40 years starting October 2024) qualify for a screening exam WITHOUT a requisition from a physician. No matter where your previous mammogram was done, we can request a copy of your records through the OBSP portal for our qualified radiologists to use for comparison.
Our highly trained, compassionate and highly qualified personnel will ensure that your mammogram goes smoothly, and as pain free as possible.
What is it?
- A mammogram is an x-ray image taken of the breast tissues. It is used as a tool for breast cancer screening and to diagnose suspicious breast changes or concerns.
- Breast tissue is compressed flat on a machine to have the best overall image displayed
- This testing is integral in the early detection and screening for breast cancer
Risks?
- This testing does expose individuals to low doses of radiation. The dosage is so low that the benefits outweigh the risk posed.
- If something unexpected appears on your imaging results, this may result in additional tests such as ultrasounds, biopsies, etc.
The Ontario Breast Screening Program (OBSP) is a screening program created, managed and funded by Cancer Care Ontario (CCO, Cancer Care Ontario is the Ontario government’s principal cancer advisor and a division of CCO. It equips health professionals, organizations and policymakers with the most up-to-date cancer knowledge and tools to prevent cancer and deliver high-quality patient care).
For more details see : www.cancercareontario.ca/en/cancer-care-ontario
The Ontario Breast Screening Program encourages people in Ontario between the ages of 50 and 74 to get screened for breast cancer. The OBSP screens 2 different groups of people who are eligible for breast cancer screening in Ontario: those at average risk and those at high risk.
OBSP 40 to 49 expansion launch
- Effective on October 8, 2024, people in Ontario ages 40 to 49 who are otherwise eligible can self-refer for breast cancer screening in the OBSP.
- Eligible people ages 40 to 49 no longer require a referral from a primary care provider to access breast cancer screening through the OBSP.
Making an informed decision about breast cancer screening
- People ages 40 to 49 should make an informed decision about whether breast cancer screening is right for them. The OBSP encourages people to speak with their doctor, their nurse practitioner or a Health811 navigator about their personal risk for breast cancer, the potential benefits and potential harms of breast cancer screening, and what matters most to them in taking care of their health.
Average Risk
The Ontario Breast Screening Program (OBSP) recommends that most eligible women, Two-Spirit, trans and nonbinary people ages 50 to 74 get screened with mammography every 2 years.
People ages 40 to 74 are eligible for screening through the OBSP if they:
- have no new breast cancer symptoms
- have no personal history of breast cancer
- have not had a mastectomy
- 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
People over age 74 can be screened within the OBSP; however, they are encouraged to make a personal decision about breast cancer screening in consultation with a primary care provider. The OBSP will not recall people over age 74 to participate in the program. To continue screening through the OBSP, a referral is required from a primary care provider.
High Risk
The Ontario Breast Screening Program (OBSP) recommends that people ages 30 to 69 who meet the High Risk OBSP eligibility criteria get screened every year with both mammography and breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (or screening breast ultrasound if MRI is not medically appropriate).
The High Risk OBSP does not accept new participants over age 70. However, when participants already in the High Risk OBSP turn 70, the program will continue to screen them with mammography only every year until they are age 74.
High Risk OBSP sites do not send letters to people over age 74 about participating in the program. To continue screening through the High Risk OBSP, a referral is required from a primary care provider.
For more information on eligibility for the High-Risk Ontario Breast Screening Program, see www.cancercareontario.ca/breast-cancer-high-risk
Benefits of an Organized Cancer Screening Program
- Inviting people to participate in screening
- Reminding screening participants when it is time for their next screening test
- Telling participants their screening test results
- Advising participants to follow up after an abnormal test result
- Tracking participants throughout screening and diagnosis processes
- Helping participants coordinate the next steps in their screening process if needed (e.g. genetic assessments for the High-Risk Ontario Breast Screening Program)
- Measuring program quality and performance
Benefits of Breast Cancer Screening
- Getting screened regularly with mammography is important because it can find cancer early when it is less likely to have spread to other parts of the body. Treatment may also have a better chance of working when breast cancer is found early.
- When breast cancer is found early, most people will survive for at least 5 years. However, if breast cancer is found later, only 3 out of 10 people will survive for at least 5 years.
Breast Cancer Screening Follow-up:
Normal screening result
- The Ontario Breast Screening Program directly notifies participants (with or without a primary care provider) of their normal results by mail. The letter will also tell participants when to get screened again.
- The screening site also sends normal screening results to a screening participant’s primary care provider.
Abnormal screening result
- Most people with abnormal mammograms do not have breast cancer. More tests are needed after an abnormal mammogram to determine whether a person has cancer.
- Additional testing may include more mammography, breast ultrasound, breast magnetic resonance imaging and/or biopsies.
- After a participant has an abnormal screening result, their screening site will notify their primary care provider and may help to schedule a timely follow-up appointment.
- A participant with an abnormal mammogram who does not have a primary care provider will be assigned to a doctor or nurse practitioner by their screening site to follow them to diagnosis. If the participant does have breast cancer, they will be referred to a specialist for further care and management.
General Public Resources
www.cancercareontario.ca/screening
To book a screening appointment, call 1-800-668-9304 or go to www.ontariohealth.ca/public-reporting
Healthcare Provider Resources
Accreditation and affiliation with the Ontario Breast Screening Program:
Diagnostic centres must go through a rigorous accreditation and affiliation process to qualify for being part of the OBSP. That includes review of all the credentials of the radiologists, technologists, and a thorough review of the quality of work in the past year, a thorough review of the quality assurance tests performed at the clinic level, review of the physicist report and maintenance records on the machine being used at the facility and more.
Keswick Advanced Imaging is a proud member of the Ontario Breast Screening Program and is considered a low-risk facility. That means any abnormal results will be shared with your physician, and all your imaging records will be referred and shared with the hospital for follow up, biopsy and whatever other measures are needed being treatment or surgery.
Georgina Island Day: Every year, we set aside a day for patients from Georgina Island where they screened and meet with representatives from the OBSP.
Frequently asked questions:
- What if my previous mammogram was done at another hospital or clinic?
No worries. All clinics belonging to the OBSP have access to the digital records of all patients and can be easily shared across the program.
2 -Do I need a requestion from my doctor to get screened:
No. If you are between the ages of 40, and 74 and you meet all the criteria mentioned below ,you do not need a requisition from your referring physician.
- have no new breast cancer symptoms
- have no personal history of breast cancer
- have not had a mastectomy
- 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.
- What happens if my results were normal:
Your physician will receive a formal report of your results and inform you of the results directly. We do not share the results with you. You will also receive a letter from the OBSP reminding you of your screen date every two years.
- What happens if my results were abnormal:
Your referring physician will receive your report, discuss the results with you and refer you to a high-risk facility such as a hospital. We will share your digital records with the hospital for them to assess the next steps whether it is biopsy, treatment or surgery.
- I was recalled by the clinic to do additional imaging, should I be worried?
Absolutely not! Due to the specific nature of some breasts, their density etc. The radiologist might request additional imaging to be done. This includes cone compression views, additional targeted ultrasound or both. Sometimes a recall is needed to differentiate between a normal anatomy and a suspicious looking entity that may require further investigation.
In some cases, the radiologist will require a six months or twelve months follow up to monitor a certain anatomy in the breasts.
- Do men get breast cancer:
Yes, men also can get best cancer, although in much smaller percentage compared with women, and do require mammograms to be diagnosed.
- Does a mammogram hurt:
That is very personal and depends on your tolerance level. The exam does require that we take four images of the breasts (8 if you have implants). The images require that the patient be positioned in a certain way so the technologist can obtain optimal images for the radiologist to read and report your results. Those positions include compression that may feel uncomfortable to some patients. Once the patient is properly positioned, the actual images take a few seconds. Every effort is made to minimize discomfort, but unfortunately, it cannot be completely eliminated. You can at any time, ask the technologist to stop if you feel pain or extreme discomfort. In some cases, we may refer some patients to the hospital as they maybe better equipped to deal with cases of extreme pain, stress or anxiety as they may have different equipment or tools to minimize those feelings.
Locations:
There are many diagnostic centres across Ontario that are part of the OBSP, see below the link