Photo of the Screen For Life Coach courtesy of Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre 

To help increase cancer screening rates and survival in Treaty #3, Ogimaawabiitong (Kenora Chiefs Advisory) is letting our communities know about free breast, cervical, and colon cancer screening available across northwestern Ontario this year.

Screening tests help find cancer early, before someone has symptoms, making it easier to treat.

Based on the Treaty #3 Cancer Burden Report released in 2018, the northwest region, encompassing Grand Council Treaty (GCT) #3 territory, typically has lower screening participation for breast, cervical and colon cancers than the rest of Ontario.

From the findings, Colon cancer was the most commonly diagnosed cancer in GCT#3 members. Breast cancer was the most commonly diagnosed cancer in GCT#3 females, with cervical cancer being the 4th  most commonly diagnosed cancer in GCT#3 females. The report was a collaboration between Cancer Care Ontario (now Ontario Health) and GCT#3, based on data collected over a 20-year period.

To help increase cancer screening rates in the region – free breast, cervical, and colon cancer screening will be available in more KCA member communities in 2024, thanks to Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre and the Screen For Life Coach.

The Screen for Life Coach is a mobile ‘one-stop’ cancer screening service where eligible individuals can access Ontario’s three organized screening programs: breast, cervical and colon, each year between April and October. Services offered on the coach do not require a referral.

In Ontario, the cancer screening guidelines for average-risk people are as follows:

  • Most women, Two-Spirit, nonbinary and trans people between the ages of 50 and 74 years, should have a mammogram every two years to screen for breast cancer.
  • Anyone with a cervix between the ages of 25 and 69 years, who has ever been sexually active, should have a Pap test to screen for cervical cancer every three years. *if you are under 25 or over 69, talk to your healthcare provider about screening options.
  • Individuals, who are between the ages of 50 and 74 years, who have no first-degree family history of colon cancer, should complete a take-home colon cancer screening kit every two years.

Community members can get more information and book their appointments on the Screen for Life Coach by calling 807-684-7777.

Our Communities:  
Naotkamegwaning First Nation and Northwest Angle #33 First Nation – Health Centre – April 30 – May 1
Shoal Lake #40 First Nation – across from the Health Centre – July 30
Washagamis Bay First Nation – Band Office – July 31
Niisaachewan Anishinaabe Nation – Band Office – August 1