Prevention and early detection of diseases are the best “cures” in the healthcare realm. Preventative care, such as regular cancer screening tests, can increase your lifespan because health concerns are more easily treated in earlier stages. Please book an appointment if you are due for one of these tests mentioned below.
Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) Screening
Colorectal cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers in Canada – 1 in 14 men and 1 in 18 women develop Colorectal cancer to some degree during their lifetime. As positive cases often start off benign, early detection leads to 90% of these cases being cured
What is a FIT Test?
A FIT screening is a safe, painless, at-home colorectal cancer screening test. FITs check your stool for small amounts of blood that could be caused by pre-cancerous polyps (abnormal growths in the intestine) or colorectal cancer.
Routine FITs are performed every 2 years, and are recommended for individuals between 50-74 years and do not have a first-degree relative diagnosed with colorectal cancer.
Individuals with first-degree relatives diagnosed with colorectal cancer are at an increased risk of developing colorectal cancer. Cancer Care Ontario recommends routine screening at either (a) 10 years earlier than the age your relative was diagnosed with colorectal cancer, or (b) at age 50, whichever comes first.
Complete a FIT Test at GHC:
After booking an appointment with your family doctor at GHC, the FIT kit will be mailed to your house. The kit will come with all the necessary equipment – including clear instructions and sample tubes and swabs. To complete the FIT kit, a collection of your stool (poop) will be taken and sent to the lab.
No changes to your diet or medication need to occur before the test. Please complete the FIT Kit as soon as possible and send it to Lifelabs via mail.
Once you have mailed the FIT kit back to the lab, your family doctor will review the results and you will be emailed or called by our staff to book an appointment with your family doctor to discuss the results further.
For more information on FIT tests or whether you should be receiving this test, please follow these links:
If you would like to book an appointment with your family doctor to discuss and receive the FIT Kit, please use our online booking link to book your
“General Appointment”
Mammography Screening
Mammograms are a diagnostic screening test for breast cancer – they use low-dose X-Rays to check for abnormalities within the breast.
How Often is this Cancer Screening Necessary?
Mammograms are routinely performed every 2 years for those at an average risk. They are recommended for women between ages 50-74.
Those who fall into the High Risk categories for breast cancer should receive a mammogram and breast MRI every year. To determine if you are of high risk, you can book an appointment with your family doctor or follow the informational links below:
How to get Started Booking a Mammogram:
To get this process started, you can book an appointment with your family doctor to discuss a mammogram and receive a mammogram requisition. Requisitions can then be used to book an appointment at your nearest diagnostic imaging center.
Please use our online booking link to book your “General Appointment”
PAP Screening
A papanicolaou (PAP) test takes a sample of the cells on the surface of your cervix (birth canal) and looks for signs of change. Cervical cancer is almost entirely preventable with the HPV vaccine, regular PAP tests, and timely follow-up of abnormal test results.
1. Your doctor will use a speculum to hold open your vagina during the procedure
2. A swab of cells from your cervix will be collected. These cells will be analyzed to detect ‘pre-cancer’ cells
3. The test will only take 15 – 30 minutes!
How Often is this Screen Necessary?
Routine PAP tests are performed every 3 years. PAP tests are recommended for women over the age of 25 or 21 if you are an immunocompromised patient (examples include type 1 diabetes, lupus, and Crohn’s Disease). Women over the age of 70 do not need to complete a PAP test if they have had 3 or more normal PAP test results in the past 10 years.
For more information on PAP, please follow these links:
Complete a PAP Test at GHC:
If you would like a PAP test performed by a female physician, please use the link below to book your appointment.
If you have had a hysterectomy (complete removal of the uterus), please discuss with your family doctor to determine if a PAP test is required for you. If you have any questions or concerns related to the PAP test, we invite you to book a “General Appointment” using the Regular Booking link with your family doctor to discuss this topic further.