Calgary West Central Primary Care Network

Screening for Life

Apr 24, 2024

Screening for Life

Apr 24, 2024

Screening for Life (AHS Screening Programs) leads and coordinates three provincial, population-based programs for breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screening, and a lung cancer screening program pilot for individuals at high risk.

Services include:

  • Screening and follow-up
  • Guideline updates and implementation
  • Fecal Immunochemical Test kit mailout services
  • Facilitating screening and diagnostic follow-up for those who don’t have a primary care provider
  • Individual patient cancer screening status on Netcare to support healthcare providers

The health provider section of the Screening for Life website offers:

  • Links to clinical practice guidelines
  • Provider-specific information
  • Resources to share with patients that are available for download or can be ordered online

Eligibility

  • For breast cancer, Women* between the ages 45 and 74 who are at average risk: Screening mammogram every two years or as decided by the patient and their healthcare provider.
  • For cervical cancer, Women* between the ages 25 and 69 who are at average risk: A Pap test (starting at age 25, or three years after becoming sexually active, whichever is later) every three years
  • For colorectal cancer, everyone between the ages 50 and 74 who is at average risk: A Fecal Immunochemical Test every year
  • For lung cancer, high risk and current or past cigarette smokers between the ages 50 and 74 may be eligible for screening (more information on eligibility).

*Please visit the 2SLGBTQI+ sections of the breast and cervical cancer screening web pages for specific information related to gender.

Referral Process

  • Albertans are automatically included in the breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screening programs when they are within the screening eligibility range and will receive personalized letters, which may include invitation, reminder, and result letters.
  • Patients can complete the lung cancer self-referral questionnaire to see if they’re eligible for lung cancer screening.