What is OBSP and why is screening important?
OBSP stands for Ontario Breast Screening Program. The program is facilitated through Cancer Care Ontario. OBSP is a province-wide program that provides high-quality breast cancer screening to two groups of people (people ages 40 to 74 at average risk for breast cancer and people ages 30 to 69 at high risk for breast cancer).
SAH’s OBSP program is specifically aimed towards people ages 40-74 who are not currently presenting with any symptoms. Breast screening is important as it leads to early detection. Screening mammography can find breast cancers when they are small and are less likely to have spread (metastasized) to the lymph nodes, resulting in a higher treatment success rate.
Who is eligible for this service?
People 40 years and older who have no previous history of breast cancer, no breast implants, and who have not received a mammogram within the last year are eligible.
*Services are also provided to people between 30 and 69 years of age identified as high-risk (medical referrals are needed for this category).
What services are offered at SAH?
- Mammography
- Breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- Screening breast ultrasound
- Discussion of appropriate screening recall time based on an individual’s screening result and risk factors
- Coordination of follow-up tests
- Normal or abnormal screening results will be sent to the individual’s respective healthcare provider
What if I don’t have a doctor/nurse practitioner?
OBSP is a self-referral program. The program is designed to increase proactive self-advocacy in terms of health awareness. There are no physician orders or referrals necessary.
How long does it take for results and who provides the patient with results?
OBSP appointments are incredibly thorough but do not take up too much time. The appointment can usually be completed within an hour. If additional tests are required, SAH OBSP does their best to get them done that day. Results determined by Radiologists will be mailed to people after their screening visit along with the next steps if necessary.
How can a patient book a screening appointment at SAH?
For more information… more details
SAH is proud to offer this service to our community. For more information on the Ontario Breast Screening Program, please visit Cancer Care Ontario.