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The Ontario Breast Screening Program (OBSP) is a Cancer Care
Ontario program dedicated to providing high quality breast
screening services for women age 50 and older.
In Northwestern Ontario, OBSP is administered through Regional
Cancer Care at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre.
What is Breast Screening?
Breast screening is the regular examination of a healthy
woman’s breasts, with the goal of detecting problems
early on. At the OBSP you may have a mammogram (or breast
x-ray) and a clinical breast exam by a specially trained nurse
examiner.
What are the benefits of Breast Screening?
Regular breast screening can find cancer when
it is very small. This means:
- There is a better chance of successfully treating
the cancer
- The cancer is less likely to spread
- There may be more treatment options
Finding cancer early is important. Research has shown
that regular screening of women 50 and older can reduce
the number of deaths from breast cancer by nearly
30 per cent.
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How often should a woman be screened?
Screening is recommended every two years for all women 50
and older who have no history of breast cancer, breast implants,
or symptoms of breast problems. Some women are asked to come
back every year. The OBSP sends a reminder letter when it
is time to return for your next screening visit.
Make an appointment today!
 Women
50 and older with no history of breast cancer or breast implants
and who don’t have any symptoms can call the OBSP and
make their own appointment for a mammogram and breast exam.
There is no charge for this service, and you do not need a
doctor’s referral.
Women who are under 50 or do not meet the criteria for the
OBSP can get a physician’s referral for breast screening
at the Linda Buchan Centre,
located at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre.
If you live in Thunder Bay, call (807) 684-7777
to book an appointment. Screening is done either on the mobile
coach, which visits many convenient locations throughout the
year or at the Linda Buchan Centre at TBRHSC. There are also
affiliate sites at the Thunder Bay Medical Centre and CML
HealthCare at the Port Arthur Health Centre.
The mobile coach also visits nearly 30 communities throughout
Northwestern Ontario, from the Manitoba border east to Chapleau.
If you live in the region, you can call toll free at 1-800-461-7031
to book an appointment in a community near you.
For more information on the OBSP, please visit Cancer
Care Ontario or the Thunder
Bay Breast Health Coalition website.
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