FAQS & RESOURCES

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.

Generally, screening tests need to be linked to either a primary care provider or clinic. If you have a primary care provider, they can arrange your screening tests. If you don’t, CanScreen can help link your test results to our clinic or to one of our physicians so you can access screening - even without a family doctor.

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. This clinic is a screening clinic. Services are offered preventatively for patients without signs of symptoms that might require other investigations or referrals. 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.

CanScreen does not have the capacity to manage patients with active symptoms. Patients who identify active symptoms in their booking questionnaire are not suitable for virtual visits. They will have their visits canceled proactively and be redirected to the services mentioned above.

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

Our mandate is to support patients without primary care providers to access the provincial cancer screening programs. We offer cancer screening and follow-up services for breast, colorectal (or colon) lung, and cervical cancers.

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

While CanScreen is based in Victoria, BC, we serve all of Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands.

All screening tests are arranged by virtual care. All you need for your appointment is access to a phone!

CanScreenBC is a screening clinic dedicated exclusively to cancer screening. We do not provide other general medical services, walk-in appointments or ICBC/WorkSafe assessments.

If you need a medical assessment unrelated to cancer screening, please consult your primary care provider, your local walk-in clinic, or review www.medimap.ca.

If you are having a medical emergency, please dial 911.

All patient appointments can be booked by clicking "Book Now" anywhere on our website.

Patients can then choose the most appropriate visit type for them. You will need to complete a basic demographic and screening questionnaire in advance of booking their intake appointment. This process only takes a minute or two.

You can book online directly here.

All initial screening assessments are done virtually by phone or video conference.

After completing an online booking, patients will receive several email reminders regarding their appointment.

We ask that all patients arranging an online booking input their preferred phone number in the pre-booking questionnaire so that one of our physicians can contact you directly at your scheduled appointment time.

If you have booked an appointment and need to cancel it, you can do so directly from your booking confirmation email. New appointments can then be booked via our online booking page.

During your virtual visit with a physician, they will assess which screening investigations you qualify for and help facilitate those.

Any imaging tests suggested will be ordered at a local diagnostic facility near you.

Lab testing suggested can be done at local labs (LifeLabs, Health Authority Lab sites).

No. We only offer cancer screening and follow-up services for breast, colorectal (or colon) lung, and cervical cancers.

No. This falls under something called “surveillance.” We are working hard at developing safe pathways to support patients like you, but for the time being we encourage you to seek care with a walk-in clinic or Urgent Primary Care Centre.

Stay tuned for updates on our website as we hope to offer this service soon!

We know that LGBTQ communities are less likely to get screened than non-trans and heterosexual counterparts. We want to remove barriers so that all may feel comfortable screening.

This service is intended for those with the greatest barriers to accessing primary care. For continuity of care, we would recommend that if you have a primary care provider, you book your cancer screening tests through them.

If you are having trouble accessing your primary care provider, we can still see you for a cancer screening consultation.

CanScreenBC is a service offered through the company Boundless Medical. You may see references to either CanScreenBC or Boundless Medical in our regular correspondence to you.

Our virtual clinic hours are dynamic and change weekly to reflect physician scheduling availability.

Our reception support hours are also variable and change based on physician scheduling.

We do not accept bookings physically at our office unless it is felt to be required by a physician after your screening results are reviewed.

If you'd like to schedule an appointment, please do so online here.