In 2020, approximately 550 people in Ontario were diagnosed with cervical cancer and about 185 people died from it. According to Dr. Lisa Del Giudice, Regional Primary Care Lead – Cancer Screening, Toronto Central Regional Cancer Program, “cervical cancer can almost always be prevented with regular cervical screening, follow-up of abnormal results and vaccination against the human papillomavirus (HPV).”

About cervical cancer:

Cervical cancer can affect anyone with a cervix who has ever been sexually active. You should go for cervical screening even if you:

• Feel healthy and have no symptoms;
• Are no longer sexually active;
• Have only had one partner;
• Are in a same-sex relationship;
• Have been through menopause;
• Have no family history of cervical cancer; or
• Have received the HPV vaccine.

Certain types of HPV can cause cervical cancer. HPV is passed from one person to another through sexual contact with a partner of any sex. Sexual contact is when someone has sex with another person or touches another person’s genitals (private parts) with their mouth or hand. HPV infections are common and up to 80% of sexually active people will have an HPV infection in their lifetime.

HPV can cause changes in the cells of the cervix. Over many years, these cell changes can sometimes lead to cervical cancer. The good news is these cell changes can be treated before they cause cervical cancer if they are found early through screening.

Who should be screened for cervical cancer?

The Toronto Central Regional Cancer Program, in partnership with Ontario Health, currently recommends a Pap test every three years if you:

• Have a cervix;
• Are or have ever been sexually active*; and
• Are ages 25 to 70 years

*Sexual activity is when someone has sex with another person or touches another person’s genitals (private parts) with their mouth or hand.

Be sure to talk to your doctor, nurse practitioner or midwife about getting checked with a Pap test to help prevent cervical cancer.

For more information about cervical screening, please visit www.cancercareontario.ca/ccaw.

If you do not have a family doctor or nurse practitioner, you can get screened at some public health units, sexual health clinics or walk-in-clinics. The Ministry of Health’s Health Care Connect Program may help you find a doctor or nurse practitioner. Visit Health Care Connect for more information. For Indigenous-led health centres, visit iphcc.ca

Blog Authors:

• Toronto Central Regional Cancer Program, Cancer Screening
• Dr. Lisa Del Giudice, Regional Primary Care Lead – Cancer Screening, Toronto Central Regional Cancer Program, Family Physician, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre Academic Family Health Team

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The reason that so many people die from lung cancer is that by the time it is usually diagnosed, the cancer has spread to other parts of the body or is too big. When the cancer has spread or is too big, treatment has less of a chance of working.

The good news is that Ontario now has an effective and evidence-based way to check, or screen, people who are at high risk of getting lung cancer. According to Dr. Lisa Del Giudice, Regional Primary Care Lead – Cancer Screening, Toronto Central Regional Cancer Program, this means that some lung cancers can be found early, when treatment has a better chance of working.

The new Ontario Lung Screening Program (OLSP) is an organized lung cancer screening program that is currently available at four hospitals in Ontario.

Who can qualify for lung cancer screening?

People may qualify to get screened for lung cancer if they:

• Are 55 to 74 years old, and
• Have smoked cigarettes every day for at least 20 years in total (it does not have to be 20 years in a row, which means there could be times when someone did not smoke).

To find out if you qualify for lung cancer screening, Dr. Del Giudice recommends speaking with your health-care provider or contacting an OLSP site hospital. To find a hospital that offers lung cancer screening through the OLSP, call 1-866-662-9233 or visit the OLSP website for a list of locations.

If you qualify for lung cancer screening and you do not have a health-care provider, the hospital will help find you one so that you can get screened.

What is the screening test for lung cancer?

People who qualify to get screened will be offered a special type of computed tomography (CT) scan that uses a small amount of radiation. This test is called a “low-dose CT scan.” Getting screened with a low-dose CT scan is the best way to find lung cancer early when it may be easier to treat.

Lung cancer screening is not for everyone. Dr. Del Giudice says that “people who are not at high risk of getting lung cancer should not get screened because there may be more risks than benefits for them.”

For more information about lung cancer screening, please visit Cancer Care Ontario. If you think you have any signs or symptoms of lung cancer, speak with your health-care provider.

There are several things you can do to lower your risk of lung cancer:

• Do not smoke and avoid second-hand smoke;
• Protect yourself from cancer-causing substances;
• Eat a healthy diet;
• Know your personal risks.

Learn more about your lung cancer risk and how to reduce your risk at My CancerIQ.

Blog Authors:

Toronto Central Regional Cancer Program, Cancer Screening

Dr. Lisa Del Giudice, Regional Primary Care Lead – Cancer Screening, Toronto Central Regional Cancer Program Family Physician, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre Academic Family Health Team

¹Cancer Care Ontario [Internet]. Toronto (ON): Lung Cancer. Available from: cancercareontario.ca/en/types-of-cancer/lung 

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“COVID-19 could not have possibly cured these cancers, so we know that there are people out there who have colon cancer but just don’t know it. There are probably even some people who have symptoms but are too afraid to see their doctor or nurse practitioner because of the pandemic”, says Dr. Lisa Del Giudice, Regional Primary Care Lead – Cancer Screening, Toronto Central Regional Cancer Program.

In the fall of 2020, colon cancer screening fully resumed in Ontario. Getting screened helps find colon cancer early, when it is more likely to be cured. When colon cancer is caught early, 9 out of 10 people can be cured.

This Colon Cancer Awareness Month, Dr. Del Giudice would like to remind you: “Don’t let COVID-19 stop you from getting checked for this preventable cancer or from seeking medical attention if you are having any symptoms”.

There are things that you can do to lower your chance of getting colon cancer:

• Limit alcohol – no amount of drinking has been found safe to prevent an increased risk of colon cancer (or, any amount of alcohol can increase the chance of getting colon cancer);
• Limit red meat and try not to eat processed meat (e.g., bologna, salami);
• Have a have body weight within guidelines;
• Be physically active as part of everyday life;
• Eat a diet high in fibre (including vegetables and fruits);
• Quit smoking and stop using tobacco products (e.g., cigarettes, chewing tobacco); and
• Get screened with FIT.

Learn more about your colon cancer risk and how to reduce your risk at My CancerIQ.

What you should know about colon cancer screening:

People ages 50 to 74 without any symptoms and with no first degree relative (parent, brother, sister or child) who has been diagnosed with colon cancer should talk to their doctor or nurse practitioner about getting checked with the fecal immunochemical test (FIT) every two years.

• FIT is a free, safe and painless at-home cancer screening test that checks your stool (poop) for tiny amounts of blood, which could be caused by colon cancer or pre-cancerous polyps (abnormal growths on the lining of the colon or rectum that could turn into cancer over time)

If you have a family history of colon cancer, talk to your doctor or nurse practitioner about when and how you should be screened.

If you are due or overdue for your colon cancer screening test, please contact your family doctor or nurse practitioner.

• If you do not have a family doctor or nurse practitioner, you can get a FIT by calling Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-828-9213.
• If you live in a First Nation community, you can contact your health centre or nursing station.

Read more about FIT.

An abnormal test result does not mean it is colon cancer:

An abnormal FIT result does not necessarily mean that you have colon cancer, but it does mean that additional testing is needed. “If you have an abnormal FIT result, be sure to go for all follow-up tests that are recommended by your doctor or nurse practitioner” says Dr. Del Giudice.

It is important to get checked!

Dr. Del Giudice says it is important to get checked because there are often no problems or physical symptoms during the early stages of colon cancer. As colon cancer develops over time, the following problems and symptoms may occur:

• Unexplained anemia (drop in red blood cell count) that is caused by a lack of iron;
• Blood (either bright red or very dark) in the stool (poop);
• Unexplained weight loss;
• New and persistent diarrhea, constipation or feeling that the bowel does not empty completely; and
• New and persistent stomach discomfort.

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, talk to your doctor or nurse practitioner right away.

This Colon Cancer Awareness Month, visit My CancerIQ to learn more about your colon cancer risk, and talk to your family doctor or nurse practitioner about your screening options. For more information, visit www.cancercareontario.ca/colon

Blog Authors:

Toronto Central Regional Cancer Program, Cancer Screening

Dr. Lisa Del Giudice, Regional Primary Care Lead – Cancer Screening, Toronto Central Regional Cancer Program and Family Physician, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre Academic Family Health Team

The post Get checked for colon cancer, even during the COVID-19 pandemic appeared first on Your Health Matters.

The fecal immunochemical test (FIT) replaced the fecal occult blood test (FOBT) in 2019 in Ontario.

Both tests check for hidden blood in the stool, which can be a sign of colorectal cancer or pre-cancerous polyps.

FIT is a more sensitive screening test than FOBT, meaning it’s better at detecting colorectal cancers and some pre-cancerous polyps. It’s easier for users because it only needs one small poop sample and there is no dietary prep involved.

FIT is a safe and painless test that you can do at home. Getting checked with FIT can help find colon cancer early, when there are no uncomfortable symptoms (such as persistent diarrhea and stomach pain). Regular cancer screening (getting checked) is important because it can find colon cancer early when it may be smaller and easier to treat.

People ages 50 to 74 with no first degree relative (parent, brother, sister or child) that has been diagnosed with colon cancer should talk to their doctor or nurse practitioner about getting checked with FIT every two years. If you have a family history of colon cancer, talk to your doctor or nurse practitioner about when and how you should be screened.

Anyone without a family doctor or nurse practitioner can call Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-828-9213. People living in a First Nation community may visit a health centre or nursing station to discuss their eligibility for a FIT kit.

LifeLabs will mail eligible people a FIT kit following a request from their family doctor or nurse practitioner. Once a person completes the FIT kit, they can mail it back to LifeLabs (a self-addressed envelope is included) or drop it off at a LifeLabs location. FIT is not a diagnostic test. That means if the test comes back positive (that blood was detected in the sample) you’d be called back for a colonoscopy to investigate further.

While the thought of collecting your poop may be slightly unappealing, it is important to do as it is a simple and easy way to catch colon cancer early.

Learn more about getting checked for colon cancer: cancercareontario.ca/colon

(This post was updated February 2021)

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Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Ontario women.

One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. Regular breast cancer screening is important because it can find cancer early when it may be smaller and easier to treat.

There are things that you can do to lower your chance of getting breast cancer:

• Limit alcohol – any amount of alcohol can increase the chance of getting breast cancer;
• Quit smoking and stop using tobacco products (e.g. cigarettes and chewing tobacco);
• Be physically active as part of your everyday life;
• Have a healthy body weight; and
• Limit time on oral contraceptives or hormone replacement therapy.

Learn more about your breast cancer risk and how to reduce your risk at My CancerIQ.

What you should know about screening:

If you have breast tissue, it is recommended that you be screened according to provincial guidelines, regardless of your gender identity or sexual identity. The Ontario Breast Screening Program (OBSP) provides high-quality breast cancer screening for two groups of people:  

Average Risk: The OBSP recommends that most women ages 50 to 74 get checked every two years with mammography.

Ontario women ages 50 to 74 are eligible for average risk screening if they:

• have no breast / chest symptoms;
• have no personal history of breast / chest cancer;
• have no current breast implants;
• have not had a mastectomy; and
• have not had a screening mammogram within the last 11 months.

(Women over age 74 can be screened within the OBSP with a physician referral)

Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario) is working to implement a policy for the inclusion of trans and gender diverse people in its organized screening programs. More info here.

Talk to your family doctor or nurse practitioner about your breast screening options, check here to find a breast screening location near you, or call 1-800-668-9304.

High Risk: The OBSP recommends that women ages 30 to 69 who are confirmed to be at high risk of getting breast cancer get checked once a year with a mammogram and breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (or screening breast ultrasound if MRI is not medically appropriate) through the High Risk Ontario Breast Screening Program (High Risk OBSP). You can be referred into this program by your healthcare provider based on your family or medical history. Check here for more information about high risk breast screening.

Most people with abnormal mammogram results do not have breast cancer.

More tests are needed after an abnormal mammogram to see if a person has cancer. If you have an abnormal screening result, be sure to go for any follow-up tests and appointments that are booked for you. Check here for more information about your mammogram results.

Changes in the breast are not always signs of cancer.

Regardless of your age, if you notice any changes with your breasts or have concerns, see your family doctor or nurse practitioner. Most changes are not cancer, but they should be checked right away.

Be breast aware and talk to your doctor if you notice:

• A lump or dimpling on the breast;
• Changes in the nipple or fluid coming from the nipple;
• Redness or skin changes that do not go away, and
• Any other changes in the breasts.

This Breast Cancer Awareness Month, visit My CancerIQ to learn more about your breast cancer risk, and speak to your family doctor or nurse practitioner about your breast screening options.  For more information, visit www.cancercareontario.ca/bcam

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Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Ontario women. One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. In Ontario, breast cancer happens mostly in women ages 50 to 74 (61 percent of cases). Regular breast cancer screening is important because it can find cancer early when it may be smaller and easier to treat.

Limiting alcohol can reduce your risk. A healthy lifestyle, including limiting alcohol, can reduce your risk of breast cancer. Other factors that may lower a woman’s chance of getting breast cancer are not smoking or using tobacco products, having a healthy body weight, and being physically fit.

Breast cancer has one of the highest survival rates out of all of the cancers in Ontario. Studies show that regular mammograms (and proper follow up testing for abnormal results) lower the risk of dying from breast cancer in women ages 50 to 74. Deaths from breast cancer in the Ontario population went down by about 47 percent in women ages 50 to 74 from 1990 to 2013. This decrease in deaths is probably due to improvements in breast cancer treatment and more women getting screened.

Between 1990 and 2017, more than 39,000 breast cancers have been found by the Ontario Breast Screening Program (OBSP) through mammography, most of which were in early stages. From the start of the program in 1990 to July 2017, over 1.9 million women ages 50 to 74 had a mammogram through the OBSP, resulting in more than 7.4 million mammograms completed.  The OBSP recommends that most women ages 50 to 74 get screened every two years with mammography. Eligible women can make their own appointments or be referred for screening by a healthcare provider.

Changes in the breast are not always signs of cancer. All women – regardless of age or risk factors – should be breast aware. This means knowing how your breasts normally look and feel so you can tell if there are changes.

This Breast Cancer Awareness Month, talk with your healthcare provider about breast screening.  For more information, visit www.cancercareontario.ca/bcam

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• Men and women 50 to 74 years of age with no family history of colorectal cancer – it’s best if you do a take-home stool test every two years. If a parent, sibling or child has had colorectal cancer, have a colonoscopy at age 50 or ten years earlier than the family member’s age at diagnosis.
• All women who are or have ever been sexually active – arrange to have a Pap test every three years starting at age 21. Pap tests can stop at age 70 if women have had three or more normal tests in the prior ten years.
• Women aged 50 to 74 years – go for a mammogram every two years at the Ontario Breast Screening Program. Women aged 30-69 years who think they may be at high risk for breast cancer because of their family or personal medical history should ask their doctor if they need high risk screening.

Talk to your healthcare provider today about screening, or find out when you should start screening for cancer by visiting Screen for Life.

Also be sure to check out MyCancerIQ, an innovative cancer risk assessment tool that helps indicate your potential risk of developing breast, cervical, colorectal and lung cancer.  MyCancerIQ is specifically designed for Ontarians and builds a tailored profile to highlight your cancer risk relative to other Ontarians your age and gender. It also provides you with a personalized health action plan so you can immediately act to reduce your cancer risk.

Other tips to improve your health and reduce your cancer risk:

• Eat well: how about a piece of fruit or some vegetables for a snack?
• Be active: take a 10-minute walk during your lunch break.
• Be tobacco-free: if you smoke, try to make a plan to quit.
• Avoid or limit how much alcohol you drink.
• Be sun-safe, and avoid indoor tanning.

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