What you're due for — and how to get it
Screening means checking for a disease before you have any symptoms. The goal is early detection — finding problems when they're smaller, more treatable, and before they cause harm. Most people who get screened will get a normal result, but for those who don't, finding something early can make a real difference in outcomes.
Colorectal Cancer
Via 811 — no clinic neededAges 50–74 with no first-degree relative diagnosed with colorectal cancer and no concerning symptoms. In other circumstances, visit with a medical professional.
A FIT kit — a short, painless at-home stool sample. You collect it, mail it in a prepaid envelope to LifeLabs, or drop it off. No diet changes, no stopping medications.
Breast Cancer
Self-refer — no referral neededAges 40–74. Ages 40–49: informed decision recommended first. Ages 50–74: routine every 2 years.
A mammogram at an Ontario Breast Screening Program location. Takes about 15 minutes. Results mailed to you.
Cervical Cancer
Walk-in or 811 finderPeople with a cervix, ages 25–69, who have ever been sexually active and have no symptoms
A cervical screening test (replaced the Pap test in 2025). A brief in-clinic swab that checks for HPV. Free and OHIP-covered.
Lung Cancer
Contact program directly or walk-in referralAges 55–80 who have smoked cigarettes every day for at least 20 years (not necessarily in a row)
A low-dose CT scan of the lungs at a hospital screening location. Painless, takes a few minutes, no needles. A risk score is calculated first to confirm eligibility.
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA)
Walk-in requisition (self-referral coming 2026)Adults ages 65–80. Higher risk in people who smoke or have smoked, or who have a family history, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol.
A free, painless 10-minute abdominal ultrasound. Ontario's AAA screening program launched in September 2025 — Canada's first.
Bone Mineral Density (BMD)
Walk-in requisition, then self-book imagingAll adults 65+. Ages 50–64 with risk factors: previous fracture, parental hip fracture, steroid use, early menopause, low body weight, smoking, heavy alcohol use, or conditions affecting bone loss.
A 15–20 minute painless DXA scan of your hip and spine at an imaging clinic. Very low radiation. OHIP-covered.
Bloodwork & blood pressure
These aren't formal screening programs, but they matter — and both are accessible without a GP.
Annual Bloodwork
Standard bloodwork for adults typically covers: CBC (blood cell counts), glucose, lipid panel (cholesterol), TSH (thyroid), and kidney/liver function. Most adults 40+ benefit from having these checked periodically — more often if you have diabetes, hypertension, or family history of heart disease.
How to access without a GP
Any walk-in clinic can order standard bloodwork. Once you have a requisition, go to any LifeLabs or Dynacare location — no appointment needed for most tests. Results are OHIP-covered and sent back to whoever ordered them.
Viewing your results
LifeLabs lets you view your results online for free at lifelabs.com. Dynacare offers result access through a paid subscription. Either way, ask the clinic that ordered your bloodwork to go over the results with you — numbers without context have limits.
Blood Pressure
High blood pressure (hypertension) usually has no symptoms. It's one of the most common and most treatable risk factors for heart attack and stroke — but only if you know about it.
How to check for free
Free blood pressure kiosks are available at most Shoppers Drug Mart, Rexall, and Walmart pharmacy locations — no appointment, no cost. Home cuffs are also widely available and accurate if used correctly.
Getting an accurate reading
Check 2–3 times and use the average. If your reading is high, wait 5 minutes and repeat before acting on it. Avoid checking right after exercise, smoking, or caffeine — all three temporarily raise your blood pressure and can give a misleading result.
What's available to you right now
All of the following are free to Ontarians. None require a family doctor to access.
Tips for staying on top of your health
From a physician who sees unattached patients every day.
Know your medications by name and dose.
Every provider you see — walk-in, ER, specialist — will ask. Keep a list in your phone or wallet: drug name, dose, and frequency.
Ask for copies of everything.
Lab results, imaging reports, discharge summaries — you're entitled to all of it. Ask at the end of every visit. A folder on your phone is enough.
Know your numbers.
Last blood pressure, last fasting glucose, last cholesterol. You don't need to memorize them — just have them somewhere accessible.
Don't skip screening because you don't have a doctor.
Most Ontario screening doesn't require a GP. FIT kits come by mail via 811. Mammograms are self-refer. Cervical screening is available at walk-ins. The access is there — it just takes knowing where to look.
811 is there when you're not sure what to do.
If you have a health concern and don't know where to turn, call 811 to speak with a registered nurse. They can help you figure out the right next step — whether that's a walk-in, a specialist, or something you can manage at home. If you think it's an emergency, call 911 or go to the ER directly.
Walk-in clinics can do more than you think.
They can order bloodwork, provide referrals to specialists, write requisitions for imaging and bone density scans, and prescribe for most common conditions. They're not just for colds.