THUNDER BAY – Cancer Care Ontario (CCO) is launching “Time to Screen,” a call to action for at least 100,000 additional residents to screen for breast, cervical and colorectal cancer over the next six months. The provincial campaign encourages Ontarians to have open conversations with their family and friends about getting screened because cancer screening saves lives through earlier diagnosis and treatment.
Send Creative E-Cards to Friends and Family
Friends and family can visit the CCO website to send creative e-cards about cancer screening to their loved ones (www.cancercare.on.ca). And Ontarians are encouraged to talk to their healthcare provider about being screened or visit the Time to Screen tool to find out the right time to be screened.
“There is strong evidence that screening for colorectal, breast, and cervical cancers can reduce mortality,” says Dr. Linda Rabeneck, Vice President, Prevention and Cancer Control, Cancer CareOntario. “That’s why we have launched this call to action to encourage all Ontarians to get screened regularly.”
“Ask an Expert” Online Live Webcast – November 19
At a recent event at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care Deb Matthews spoke about the importance of cancer screening and announced “Ask an Expert”: an online live web cast on November 19 at 7 pm to help Ontarians learn more about cancer. People from across the province can submit questions in advance at ontario.ca/screenforlife. At this new “doctors for an hour” event, questions will be answered by a panel of cancer screening experts.
Who Needs to be Screened?
“Time to Screen” encourages average risk men and women 50 to 74 years of age to screen for colorectal cancer every two years using the Fecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT), average risk women 50 to 74 years of age to screen for breast cancer every two years with mammography, and women 21 to 70 years to screen for cervical cancer every three years with a Pap test. Women 30 to 69 years of age who have been identified as being at high risk for breast cancer should have a screening mammogram and MRI every year.
Why Should I Be Screened?
Cancer screening sees what you can’t and is proven to save lives by detecting pre-cancerous changes or cancer at an early stage. Cervical cancer is almost entirely preventable with regular Pap tests, appropriate and timely follow-up, and HPV immunization. When caught early, there is a 90 percent chance that people with colorectal cancer will be cured. And between 1990 and 2008, breast cancer death rates for Ontario women decreased by 37 percent, which may be the result of better treatments, increased screening with mammography, and a recent decline in breast cancer incidence.
“Screening plays an incredibly important role in early detection and prevention,” said Minister Matthews. “And our government is committed to providing the knowledge, tools and other supports to help you understand when it is the right time to start screening.”
