Before diving into the specifics, let’s underscore the overarching benefits of health screenings in Ontario:

• Early detection of health issues
• Improved treatment outcomes
• Enhanced quality of life
• Reduced healthcare costs
• Empowerment through proactive healthcare management

Cancer Screening for Women

Cancer screenings are pivotal in women’s health maintenance, offering the opportunity for early detection and intervention. Here are the key cancer screenings recommended for women in Ontario:

Breast Cancer Screening:

• Target Population Average Risk: If you are a woman between the ages of 50 to 74, it is recommended that you have a breast screening mammogram every 2 years.

• High Risk Population: If you are a woman between the ages of 30 to 69, it is recommended you have a mammogram every year if you:

  • are known to have a gene mutation that increases your risk

  • have a first degree relative (parent, sibling, or child) with this gene mutation

  • have a personal or family history of breast or ovarian cancer

  • have had radiation to the chest before age 30 and at least 8 years ago

• Screening Method: Mammography (x-ray picture of the breast)
• Benefits: Early detection of breast cancer, leading to improved treatment outcomes and survival rates.

Cervical Cancer Screening:

• Target Population: Women aged 25 to 69, including those who have been vaccinated against HPV.

• If you are a woman, 25 years of age and older, and have ever been sexually active, it is recommended you have a Pap test every 3 years.

• Regular screening for cervical cancer can stop at the age of 70 if you have had 3 or more normal tests within 10 years.

• Screening Method: Pap smear (cervical cytology) via vaginal swab

• Benefits: Detection of precancerous changes in cervical cells, allowing for prompt intervention and prevention of cervical cancer.

Colorectal Cancer Screening:

• Target Population: Women aged 50 to 74, with average risk factors.

• Low risk: every 2 years via fecal immunochemical test (FIT) if no family history of this type of cancer

• High Risk: If you have a first-degree relative (parent, sibling, or child) who has been diagnosed with colon cancer, it is recommended you are screened with a colonoscopy starting at age 50 or 10 years earlier than the age your relative was diagnosed, whichever comes first.

• Screening Method: Fecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT) or fecal immunochemical test (FIT), or colonoscopy.
• Benefits: Early detection and removal of precancerous polyps, reducing the risk of developing colorectal cancer.

Other Recommended Health Screening For Women:

In addition to cancer screenings, certain health screenings are recommended for women in Ontario to address specific health concerns:

Osteoporosis Screening For Women:

• Target Population: Women aged 65 and older, or younger women with risk factors.

• OHIP covers annual BMD tests for individuals at high risk for osteoporosis and future fractures.

• Individuals at low risk are eligible for a baseline BMD test and a second BMD test 36 months after the baseline. Third and subsequent BMD tests for low-risk individuals are insured by OHIP once every 60 months.

• Risk criteria:

  • All women and men 65 years or older

  • Postmenopausal women and men 50 – 64 with risk factors for fracture including:

    • Fragility fracture after age 40

    • Vertebral fracture or low bone mass identified on x-ray

    • Parental hip fracture

    • High alcohol intake

    • Current smoking

    • Low body weight, i.e. less than 132 lbs or 60 kg

    • Weight loss since age 25 greater than 10%

    • High risk medication use: prolonged glucocorticoid use, aromatase inhibitors for breast cancer, androgen deprivation therapy for prostate cancer

    • Rheumatoid arthritis

    • Other disorders that may contribute to bone loss

    • Younger men or women (under 50) with a disease or condition associated with low bone mass or bone loss:

      • Fragility fractures

      • High-risk medication use (steroid use, aromatase inhibitors, androgen deprivation therapy)

      • Rheumatoid arthritis

      • Other chronic inflammatory conditions

      • Cushing’s disease

      • Malabsorption syndrome

      • Uncontrolled hyperthyroidism

      • Primary hyperparathyroidism

      • Hypogonadism; Early menopause (< 45)

      • Other disorders associated with rapid bone loss/fractures

• Screening Method: Bone density scan (Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry – DXA).

• Benefits: Early detection of osteoporosis, enabling preventive measures to reduce the risk of fractures.

Cardiovascular Health Screening For Women:

• Target Population: Women aged 40 and older, or younger women with risk factors.
• Screening Method: Lipid profile (cholesterol screening), blood pressure measurement, as well as fasting glucose and HbA1C (as diabetes is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease).
• Benefits: Assessment of cardiovascular risk factors, facilitating preventive measures to reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke.

It’s also important to do regular eye exams, hearing tests, as well as more comprehensive health testing like nutrient deficiencies (vitamin D, B12, iron). As we age there are many conditions that become prevalent, beyond the above mentioned cancer, cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis. There is also a high rate of hypothyroidism, diabetes, increased inflammation, and many more. Consulting with a licensed naturopathic doctor is a comprehensive assessment to make sure none of these areas is being missed.