SCREENING

This page is about screening. If you have any symptoms, screening does not apply and you must discuss with your doctor.

BABIES AND CHILDREN

We like to do baby checks at 2, 4, 6, 9, 12 and 18 months. Then at 2, 3, 4 and 5 years. Please tell the MOA when booking as we have slightly longer appointments.

Cervical

You can now choose how you’d like to screen for cervical cancer:

Cervix self-screening at home or at a health care provider’s office
Pap test with a health care provider

Anyone with a cervix, between the ages of 25 and 69, should be screened for cervical cancer every three to five years. The test is free and only takes a few minutes of your time. Those women who have had abnormal paps, may be required to continue yearly paps indefinitely.

Please see this link for more information:

http://www.bccancer.bc.ca/screening/cervix

It also gives more information about what may happen if you have an abnormal result.

There is an animated video and advice about colposcopy here:

http://www.bccancer.bc.ca/screening/cervix/results/colposcopy

And an animated video and advice about a LEEP procedure here:

http://www.bccancer.bc.ca/screening/cervix/results/leep

BREAST

New Canada wide breast screening guidelines came out in December 2018.

https://canadiantaskforce.ca/guidelines/published-guidelines/breast-cancer-update/

Current BC guidelines vary from these guidelines

http://www.bccancer.bc.ca/screening/breast

In BC, breast screening using mammograms is available from age 40 to 79.

If you are unsure about whether to screen yourself please discuss with your doctor, who can help to advise taking into account your personal and family history.

From the age of 75 upwards, the evidence is poor that there are benefits to screening v harm. Discuss with your doctor if you would like to know more .

Breast examination for screening purposes is not recommended as it has not been shown to reduce the incidence of breast cancer or related deaths.

https://canadiantaskforce.ca/tools-resources/breast-cancer-2/breast-cancer-patient-faq/

COLON

Colon screening start at age 50 and runs to age 74. There may be exceptions to this dependant on family history, but this screening would be outside of the formal program.

Those people, who have a personal history of adenomas found at previous colonoscopy or who have a family history of one 1st degree ( parent, sibling, child) relative under the age of 60, or two 1st degree relatives of any age who have had colorectal cancer, are considered to be of higher than average risk and are referred straight for colonoscopy.

Everyone else is considered normal risk and has a stool test called a FIT test. If the FIT test is positive, you will be called for a colonoscopy.

More information can be found here:

http://www.bccancer.bc.ca/screening/colon

An animated video and information about colonoscopies can be found here:

http://www.bccancer.bc.ca/screening/colon/get-screened/what-is-colonoscopy

Lung

Lung cancer is one of the most diagnosed cancers, and the leading cause of cancer death in BC. Early detection through screening can help find cancer in its early stages, when treatment is more successful.

Lung screening is best for those who are at high-risk for lung cancer and who are not experiencing any symptoms. This usually includes people who are:

55 to 74 years of age;
Have smoked commercial tobacco for 20 years or more, either currently or in the past.

If you think you meet these requirements, please call the Lung Screening Program at 1-877-717-5864 to complete a consultation and risk assessment over the phone. Not everyone who meets the above requirements will be eligible for lung screening. A risk assessment over the phone is needed to confirm eligibility.

Lung screening involves a scan of your lungs using a low-dose CT (LDCT) machine. The scan is free and takes place at a hospital in your community.

A low-dose CT scan is a safe and effective way to screen for lung cancer and can pick up much more than a chest x-ray can.

More information can be found here:

http://www.bccancer.bc.ca/screening/lung

ABDOMINAL AORTIC ANEURYSM

This is a very serious condition that mostly affects men rather than women. It is also more common in smokers.

The aorta is a large blood vessel that comes out of the heart and runs down through the chest into the abdomen. Lots of smaller vessels come off the main artery. In rare cases this vessel can dilate and may burst, this is obviously very serious and life threatening. If found beforehand, it can be monitored and repaired if needed.

There is some evidence that one time screening of all men over the age of 65 ( up to 80) with an abdominal ultrasound may be beneficial. Please discuss with your doctor.

PROSTATE

A very difficult subject! And there is no consensus amongst doctors on the best approach, perhaps because there isn't one!

Prostate cancer the most common non-skin cancer in men.

We do know that the PSA test is a poor predictor of prostate cancer. MSP will only pay for medically necessary testing.

There have been several trials looking at prostate screening, the best being in Europe of half a million men.

Current Canadian advice to family physicians is not to screen - see the following link:

https://canadiantaskforce.ca/guidelines/published-guidelines/prostate-cancer/

This is a good information page for patients:

https://canadiantaskforce.ca/tools-resources/prostate-cancer-for-patients/

Also

https://canadiantaskforce.ca/tools-resources/prostate-cancer-harms-and-benefits/

However, the Canadian Urological Association, has published guidelines for urologists which are different. They suggest a discussion between a patient and their doctor, considering the pros and cons of testing, and testing if the patient wishes.

Plus a leaflet for men diagnosed with low risk prostate cancer:

https://choosingwiselycanada.org/low-risk-prostate-cancer/

Discuss with your doctor to make the right decision for you. If you wish to take the test, MSP does not cover the cost unless your doctor feels it is medically necessary.

Screening: About