Niagara Health has three full-service Ontario Breast Screening Program (OBSP) Centres and Assessment Clinics in Niagara Falls, St. Catharines and Welland.
OBSP Centres and Assessment Clinics
Niagara Falls OBSP Centre
905-358-4952
St. Catharines OBSP Centre
905-378-4647 Ext 46345
Welland OBSP Centre
905-732-5434
One in eight women will get breast cancer in her lifetime. Breast cancer is the most common cancer in Ontario women, but more people in Ontario survive breast cancer than almost every other cancer. Regular screening is important because it can find breast cancer early when treatment has a better chance of working.
In October 2024, some changes were made to breast screening services in Ontario. The Ontario Breast Screening Program expanded to offer screening to people ages 40 to 49. If you are in this age group, some of the information on this page may be different for you than for people ages 50 to 74. See more.
ABOUT THE OBSP
Niagara Health, in partnership with Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario), checks two different groups of people in Ontario for breast cancer: those at average risk and those at high risk. The Ontario Breast Screening Program (OBSP) recommends that:
- Most people ages 40 to 74 who are eligible for the OBSP get checked every two years with a mammogram.
- People ages 30 to 69 who meet the High Risk OBSP eligibility criteria get checked once a year with both a mammogram and breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (or screening breast ultrasound if MRI is not medically appropriate).
- People ages 70 to 74 who are already in the High Risk OBSP get checked once a year with a mammogram through the program.
Women aged 40 to 74 who are at average risk for breast cancer can schedule a mammography (without a doctor's referral) every two years through the Ontario Breast Screening Program (OBSP). Anyone who is considered high-risk based on medical or family history, should speak with their primary care provider about getting screened for breast cancer.
To learn more, visit www.cancercareontario.ca/bcam. If you live in a First Nation community, visit your nursing station or health centre for more information.
MOBILE CANCER SCREENING COACH
The Mobile Cancer Screening Coach brings breast, cervical and colon cancer screening programs to residents who are under or never screened, meaning they are eligible for free cancer screening but have never taken part or they participated once and didn’t return. The Coach features a state-of-the-art digital mammography suite, private exam room and sitting area.
Residents can book an appointment by calling 905-975-4467 or 1-855-338-3131, or drop-ins can be accommodated on a first-come, first-served basis.
Women aged 40 and up can call directly to make an appointment, with follow-up appointments made as necessary by OBSP staff. The Coach’s monthly schedule is available here.
Extraordinary Caring. Every Person. Every Time.
