The Ontario Breast Screening Program (OBSP) has announced a significant change to its mammography referral process in honour of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Northumberland Hills Hospital (NHH) is spreading the word that individuals aged 40 to 49 can now self-refer for a mammogram through the OBSP, a service covered by OHIP. This expansion removes the previous requirement for a doctor’s or nurse practitioner’s referral, opening up access to over a million additional people in Ontario.
The OBSP recommends regular screenings for people aged 40 to 74, including women, men, Two-Spirit, trans, and nonbinary individuals, to help with early detection of breast cancer. Early detection is crucial, with the Canadian Cancer Society predicting 30,500 breast cancer diagnoses for Canadian women in 2024. Dr. Deljit Dhanoa, Chief of NHH Diagnostic Imaging Services, highlights that early detection can significantly increase survival chances.
NHH’s Diagnostic Imaging Department offers fully digital mammography services, ensuring patients in Northumberland County have access to these critical screenings.
For more information about the OBSP, visit: Breast cancer testing and prevention | ontario.ca
or call 905-377-7795 to book an appointment with NHH’s OBS Prevention Centre
(Written by: Joseph Goden)
