Cancer Screening for People Without a Primary Care Provider
More and more, people in Ontario are finding themselves without a Primary Care Provider (family doctor or nurse practitioner). Not having a Primary Care Provider can be a barrier to accessing health services, but it does not have to be a barrier to receive cancer screening.
Screening for cancer is the best way to find cancer early, when it is easier to cure. If you do not have a Primary Care Provider you can still receive cancer screening.
Click the links below to learn how to access each of these cancer screening services without a Primary Care Provider:
Colon cancer is one of the most common cancers people die from in Ontario however, when found early, 9 out of 10 people can be cured.
If you are between 50 to 74 years of age and have no family history of colon cancer, you should be screened every 2 years with the fecal immunochemical test (FIT).
To get a FIT kit without a family doctor, call Health 811 (dial 811 on your phone) and ask for a FIT kit to be mailed to your home.
If your parent, sibling, or child has had colon cancer, it is important to see a healthcare provider for a referral for a colonoscopy instead of a FIT kit for screening. You can call Health 811 to get connected to a provider near you who can help.
Click here to learn more about colon cancer screening.
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer related deaths in Ontario.
If you are between 55 to 74 years of age and have smoked cigarettes for at least 20 years (not necessarily in a row), it is recommended that you get screened for lung cancer.
Call the Ontario Lung Screening Program (OLSP) at Lakeridge Health Oshawa at 1-905-576-8711 extension 34449 to speak with a nurse about getting checked for lung cancer.
Click here to learn more about lung cancer screening.
Cervical cancer is almost 100% preventable!
If you are a woman, trans, or nonbinary person with a cervix, between 25 to 70 years of age and have ever been sexually active, it is recommended you have a Pap test every 3 years to check for signs of cervical cancer.
Click here for a map of clinic locations where Pap testing is available to patients without a Primary Care Provider.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in Ontario women.
Average Risk (No family history of genetic mutations that increase your risk of breast cancer):
If you are a woman, trans, or nonbinary person between 50 to 74 years of age it is recommended that you have a breast screening mammogram every 2 years.
You do not need a referral from a primary care provider.
You can:
- Call 1-800-668-9304 to book a mammogram.
- Click here to use the map to find a breast screening location near you. You can call the breast screening site directly to book your appointment. Some locations have online booking options.
High Risk (Personal or family history of genetic mutations that increase your risk of breast cancer):
If you are between 30 to 69 years of age and have a personal or family history that increases your risk of breast cancer, it is recommended you are screened every year.
You will need a referral from a healthcare provider for high risk screening.
Call Health 811 (dial 811 on your phone) to be connected with a primary care provider who will refer you for high risk breast cancer screening.