Expanded Access to Breast Cancer Screening at CCH
2024-10-19
October marks Breast Cancer
Awareness Month, a time to support and honour those affected by the disease.
According to Cancer Care Ontario, breast cancer is the most common cancer in
Ontario women. One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their
lifetime. Regular screening can find breast cancer early, allowing for more
effective intervention.
Cornwall Community Hospital (CCH)
is proud to announce that we have expanded our breast cancer screening services
following a recent change in provincial guidelines. The Ontario Breast
Screening Program (OBSP) now offers routine screenings to individuals aged 40
to 74 at average risk for breast cancer, lowering the starting age from 50 to
40. Those within this age range can now access screenings at OBSP locations,
including CCH, without needing a doctor’s referral.
CCH was designated an OBSP site
in 2008, and since then the program has continued to expand. In 2023 alone, the
hospital performed nearly 6,000 mammograms, with over 4,000 for patients aged
50-74 who qualified for the OBSP. With the recent age adjustment, the province
is now making screenings more accessible for even more women in our community.
To be eligible for routine
screening through the OBSP, individuals must be aged 40-74, symptom-free, with
no personal history of breast cancer, no prior mastectomy, and must not have
had a mammogram within the last 11 months. Before initiating your self-referral,
we always recommend that you consult with your family doctor, nurse
practitioner, or a Health811 navigator to make an informed decision about your
breast cancer risk and whether screening is appropriate for you at this time.
Individuals aged 30 to 69 who meet the high-risk criteria based on personal and
family history should be screened through the High Risk OBSP with a referral
from their primary care provider.
If you choose to proceed with a
self-referral for screening, you can contact the hospital at 613-938-4240
extension 3850 to book an appointment, provided you meet the OBSP criteria.
Wait times may vary, as routine OBSP screenings are not considered emergencies;
urgent cases are managed expeditiously.
Screening results are mailed to
patients and also sent to your family doctor. If any abnormalities are found
and you do not have a doctor, a CCH surgeon will follow up with you directly.
Patients also receive reminders by mail when it’s time for their next
screening.
CCH is proud to support local
cancer and diagnostic imaging patients with innovative, compassionate
care. In 2023, the hospital introduced a
new advanced mammography machine, made possible by a successful Cornwall Community
Hospital Foundation fundraising campaign. The machine features cutting-edge 3D
breast imaging technology that enhances diagnostic accuracy, ensuring our
community receives state-of-the-art diagnostic services close to home.
For more information on the OBSP including eligibility
criteria, please visit www.cancercareontario.ca/en/cancer-care-ontario/programs/screening-programs/ontario-breast-obsp.