FAQ & RESOURCES

After three years of service, CanScreen has made the difficult decision to begin winding down. The service was created as a physician-led response to an important gap in care for patients without a regular primary care provider, and over that time it showed that a virtual, centralized model could improve access to cancer screening and follow-up. As the service evolved, it became clear that long-term continuation would require broader coordination, shared responsibility, and system-level support beyond what an interim physician-led service could provide. While that next phase did not come together in a way that allowed CanScreen to continue, we are proud of what was achieved and grateful to the patients, partners, and providers who supported this work.

CanScreen is no longer accepting new referrals or new screening bookings. Existing CanScreen patients who still require follow-up may continue to access that care until July 1, 2026, which will be the final date CanScreen provides follow-up services. If you are still awaiting follow-up, you may book your follow-up appointment using the link below.

Screening means checking your body for potential signs of cancer before symptoms develop. When caught early, treatments for cancer are likely to be more effective. Publicly-funded screening is currently available for cervical, colorectal, breast and lung.

In many cases, screening tests are linked to a primary care provider or clinic that can receive and act on the results. If you have a family doctor or nurse practitioner, they can usually help arrange screening directly. CanScreen previously helped support access for patients without a regular primary care provider by linking screening and follow-up to our clinic or one of our physicians. As CanScreen is now winding down, we are no longer accepting new referrals or new screening bookings. Please visit the BC Cancer website for information on the screening options currently available to you.

To be eligible for screening via our clinic, at present, the following criteria must be met:

• You are a resident of BC and registered with an MSP number.
  

• You are within the age range for publicly funded cancer screening tests and haven’t received them in the recommended time window

• You don’t have symptoms that might require other diagnostic investigations - for example, a new breast lump, abdominal pain, blood in your stools or blood in your sputum. Cancer screening tests are not appropriate for patients with symptoms. 

• For cervical cancer screening (e.g. follow up of HPV testing, abnormal paps), we only offer services to patients in the South Vancouver Island area.

Yes. If you are a BC resident the Medical Services Plan (MSP) pays for medically required services of physician and surgeons, this includes all recommended cancer screening.

Publicly-funded screening is currently available for cervical, colorectal, breast and lung.

No. Screening services are offered preventatively for patients without signs of symptoms. If you have new symptoms such as those described above, you should seek out an assessment at a local Urgent Care Center, a Walk-in Clinic, or your primary care provider’s office - screening tests alone are not appropriate.

If you're having a medical emergency, you should dial 9-1-1 or go to the nearest Emergency Room.

BC-Cancer currently supports screening for breast, colorectal (or colon) lung, and cervical cancers.

Currently, no screening tests are routinely available in B.C. for other types of cancer.

For patients already being followed by CanScreen, any recommended imaging would generally be arranged at a diagnostic facility close to home.

Any recommended lab work could be completed at local laboratory sites, including LifeLabs or health authority laboratories. CanScreen is no longer accepting new referrals or new screening bookings.