Designed for average-risk, asymptomatic people. Based on Ontario screening program guidance.
Symptoms always require prompt medical assessment. Do not wait for routine screening.
Independent educational resource. Not affiliated with the Government of Ontario, the Ministry of Health, or any healthcare institution. For informational purposes only — not a substitute for professional medical advice.
Medical Emergency? If you are experiencing life-threatening or worrisome symptoms, call 911 immediately and go to your nearest hospital emergency department.
Interactive Tool
What Screening Might I Need?
Answer a few quick questions to see which Ontario screening programs may apply to you.
This is a general guide — always discuss your personal history with a licensed healthcare provider.
Enter your age in years.
This tool does not collect, store, or transmit any personal health information. All inputs are processed locally in your browser and are not saved or sent anywhere.
The Case for Screening
Why Screen?
Routine screening can identify health concerns before symptoms develop, when intervention is often simpler and outcomes are better.
Breast / Mammogram
Mammogram screening may help to detect changes before they can be felt. Early detection of breast cancer can lead to improved treatment outcomes, a higher survival rate, and possibly less intensive treatment.
Cervical / HPV Test
Cervical cancer is preventable in many cases. Formerly known as PAP testing, HPV testing helps to identify high-risk strains of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) associated with cervical cancer. HPV testing allows for early detection of abnormal cell changes, and can help to prevent cancer before it develops.
Colon / FIT Kit
Polyps and early cancers of the colon can bleed silently, without any symptoms. A FIT kit allows you to take a small stool sample in the privacy and comfort of your own home to check for hidden blood, helping to detect colon cancer earlier.
Lung / Low-Dose CT
Smoking is associated with a significantly higher risk of developing lung cancer. Low-dose CT screening is an important test offered to help find lung cancer at an earlier stage. Early detection may help treatment to work better.
AAA / Abdominal Ultrasound
An abdominal aortic aneurysm is a silent, life-threatening bulge in the body's main blood vessel, the aorta. This relatively quick, radiation-free scan of the abdomen can help detect this bulge early, before it becomes a medical emergency.
Screening Saves Lives
These programs are designed for people without symptoms. If you notice something new or concerning, please see a licensed healthcare provider promptly — do not wait for a routine screening appointment.
Unattached Patients
No Family Doctor? You Can Still Screen.
Many Ontario screening programs allow self-referral or can be accessed through Health811, walk-in clinics, and community health centres.
Important: Screening is for people without symptoms. If you have concerning symptoms, please see a licensed healthcare provider rather than waiting for routine screening.
Colon Screening
FIT Kit by Mail
No family doctor? If you are between the ages of 45 and 74 and are at average risk, call Health811 to ask about having a FIT kit mailed directly to your home. (As of July 1, 2026, Ontario lowered the average-risk screening age from 50 to 45.)
If you are between the ages of 40 and 74, you may self-refer for a mammogram through the Ontario Breast Screening Program — no doctor's referral is required.
If you are between the ages of 55 and 80 and have a history of smoking cigarettes daily for at least 20 years, you may contact an Ontario Lung Screening Program site directly to ask about an eligibility assessment.
Cervical HPV testing generally requires a licensed healthcare provider-collected sample. If you do not have a family doctor, Health811, walk-in clinics, community health centres, and sexual health clinics may be able to assist.
If you are age 65 or older, ask a walk-in clinic physician or Health811 about a referral for a one-time abdominal ultrasound to screen for abdominal aortic aneurysm.
Lung & Vascular Health for Current and Former Smokers
Smoking history matters even if you quit years ago.
Many Ontario screening programs take your full lifetime history into account.
Lung Screening Eligibility
Have you smoked cigarettes every day for at least 20 years total?
The 20 years do not need to be consecutive.
The Ontario Lung Screening Program uses a clinical risk assessment to determine eligibility.
Qualifying for an assessment does not guarantee that screening will be recommended — the clinical team evaluates your full health picture.
Eligibility also requires valid OHIP coverage and age between 55 and 80.
For the most up-to-date information on health screening in Ontario, please visit the appropriate local health authority websites below. All links open in a new tab.
You can get eligible screening tests even if you do not have a family doctor. Health811, walk-in clinics, community health centres, and self-referral programs can help connect you to the right screenings.
Ask for Support
Interpretation services, accessible formats, and assistance with booking are available through many Ontario health services. You are entitled to ask for the support you need when accessing care.
Prostate Health
Prostate Cancer & PSA Testing
A shared decision — not routine screening for everyone.
Understanding what PSA testing is, who might consider it, and how to have the right conversation with your healthcare provider.
For people with a prostate
What is a PSA test?
PSA stands for prostate-specific antigen. A PSA test is a blood test that measures a protein produced by prostate cells.
Small amounts of PSA are normally present in the blood. A higher PSA level can occur with prostate cancer,
but it can also occur for many reasons that have nothing to do with cancer.
Unlike some other cancer screening programs, PSA testing is not routinely recommended for everyone in Ontario.
It is generally a shared decision made after discussing your age, risk factors, overall health, personal preferences,
and the possible benefits and harms with a healthcare provider.
Anyone with a prostate may be at risk of prostate cancer. This includes people who are male or were assigned male at birth.
If you are unsure whether this applies to you, speak with a licensed healthcare professional.
Important Ontario Note
Ontario does not have an organized, population-wide PSA screening program. This is because current evidence shows that while PSA testing may offer some benefits, it also carries important risks — including overdiagnosis and overtreatment. PSA testing may still be discussed with a doctor or nurse practitioner based on personal risk, family history, previous results, or prostate cancer follow-up.
Do not assume PSA testing is automatically covered by OHIP in every situation. In Ontario, coverage for PSA testing depends on clinical circumstances and referral criteria. Ask your healthcare provider or laboratory about coverage before arranging a test.
Symptoms Need Assessment — Not Routine Screening
Routine screening is designed for people who do not currently have symptoms. If you are experiencing symptoms, the appropriate next step is a medical assessment — not a screening tool. Examples of symptoms that should prompt timely medical attention include:
New difficulty urinating or changes in urinary flow
Blood in the urine or semen
New or worsening pelvic, back, hip, or bone pain
Unexplained weight loss
New urinary symptoms that are worsening or feel concerning
Any symptom that feels unusual or new for you
These symptoms do not always mean cancer. However, they should be assessed by a healthcare provider promptly.
Depending on severity, this may mean a family doctor, nurse practitioner, walk-in clinic, urgent care,
Health811, or an emergency department.
Why Might PSA Be Checked?
Early Detection Discussion
To help look for prostate cancer before symptoms appear, if testing is considered appropriate after an informed discussion with a healthcare provider.
Symptom Assessment
To help assess prostate-related symptoms, alongside a physical examination, urine testing, imaging, or specialist referral if needed.
Monitoring Known Prostate Cancer
To monitor prostate cancer during active treatment, active surveillance, or follow-up after treatment has been completed.
This website focuses on PSA as an early-detection discussion for people without a diagnosis. If you already have prostate cancer or symptoms, please follow the advice of your treating healthcare provider.
Who Might Consider Discussing PSA Testing?
Average Risk
Starting Around Age 50
People at average risk may consider discussing PSA testing with a healthcare provider starting around age 50. This does not mean everyone at this age should be tested. It means it may be reasonable to review the potential benefits and limitations together.
Higher Risk
Starting Around Age 45
People at higher risk may wish to consider discussing PSA testing starting around age 45. Higher-risk factors may include:
Black men, including those of African or Caribbean ancestry
A first-degree relative (father, brother, or son) with prostate cancer
A strong family history of prostate cancer across multiple relatives
A known hereditary cancer risk, such as a BRCA-related family history
If you have a strong family history or a known inherited cancer risk, consider asking whether genetic counselling or specialist advice is appropriate for you.
Age and Overall Health Matter
PSA testing is less likely to be beneficial for people with limited life expectancy or significant competing health concerns. For those around age 70 and older, the decision to start or continue PSA testing should be made on an individual basis — taking into account overall health, previous PSA results, and personal preferences. There is no single age at which testing always stops or always continues.
Benefits and Limitations of PSA Testing
Potential Benefits
May detect prostate cancer before symptoms develop
Earlier detection may allow treatment when cancer is still localized
May reduce the likelihood of advanced prostate cancer in some people
May provide useful information about prostate health when results are reviewed in context
Important Limitations and Harms
A high PSA does not confirm cancer
A normal PSA does not fully rule out cancer
False positives can cause anxiety and lead to further testing
Follow-up may include MRI, repeat blood tests, referral, or biopsy
Biopsy carries risks including discomfort, bleeding, and infection
PSA testing can detect slow-growing cancers that may never have caused symptoms or affected life expectancy
Finding such cancers can lead to treatment that may not have been needed, which carries its own risks
Treatment side effects may include erectile dysfunction or urinary incontinence
The goal is to consider whether testing is likely to help more than it could harm — and that is a decision best made with a healthcare provider who knows your individual situation.
PSA Can Rise for Many Reasons Other Than Cancer
PSA is prostate-related, but it is not specific to cancer. A higher result can occur for a variety of non-cancer reasons, including:
Benign prostate enlargement
Prostate inflammation or infection
Urinary tract infection
Recent ejaculation
Frequent or prolonged cycling
Recent urinary catheterization
Recent prostate procedure or biopsy
Certain medications or hormones
Before arranging the test, a healthcare provider can explain how to prepare and how your result should be interpreted in the context of your personal history.
This website does not interpret PSA results. Results must be reviewed with a healthcare provider.
Should I Discuss PSA Testing?
This tool helps guide you toward an appropriate next step. It does not diagnose cancer, interpret PSA results, or recommend testing directly.
Enter your current age in years.
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No Family Doctor? You Can Still Ask About PSA Testing.
Not having a family doctor does not prevent you from discussing PSA testing or prostate-related concerns. The following options may be available to you:
Call Health811 to speak with a registered nurse and ask about next steps
Visit a walk-in clinic and ask about prostate health or PSA testing
Visit a community health centre or nurse practitioner-led clinic if available in your area
Use urgent care or an emergency department if symptoms are severe or worsening
If you have symptoms, seek timely in-person assessment rather than waiting for a routine screening appointment.
Questions You Can Ask Your Healthcare Provider
It can help to go into the conversation prepared. Consider asking:
Based on my age and risk factors, should I consider PSA testing?
What are the possible benefits for me personally?
What are the possible harms or risks?
Could a high PSA result be caused by something other than cancer?
Is the test covered by OHIP in my situation?
What would happen if my PSA came back elevated?
Would I need repeat testing, an MRI, a biopsy, or a referral to a specialist?
At what age or point in my health would PSA testing no longer be useful?
PSA Testing — Key Takeaways
PSA is a blood test related to prostate health — not a definitive cancer test
PSA can be elevated for cancer and non-cancer reasons
Ontario does not have an organized, population-wide PSA screening program
PSA testing is a shared decision — not routine screening for everyone
Average-risk people may consider discussing PSA testing starting around age 50
Higher-risk people may consider discussing PSA testing starting around age 45
Symptoms should be assessed by a healthcare provider — do not wait for screening
Age, overall health, life expectancy, family history, and personal preferences all matter
OHIP coverage for PSA testing depends on clinical circumstances — confirm before testing
This website does not interpret PSA results
Please note: This is an independent educational resource. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by the Government of Ontario, the Ministry of Health, Ontario Health, Cancer Care Ontario, or any hospital or healthcare institution. The information here is for general education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice — always consult a licensed healthcare provider about your personal health and screening decisions.