BC Women ages 40 to 79
Screening Mammograms are for women with no sign of a breast problem (see your doctor immediately if you find a lump or any unusual changes in your breast). By age 50, women should make screening mammograms part of their regular health routine and have them at least once every two years. To book a screening mammogram without a doctor's referral, call:
Lower Mainland: 604-877-6187
Rest of BC: 1-800-663-9203 (toll-free)
Phone Hours of Operation:
Monday to Friday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm and Saturday 8:00 am to 2:00 pm. Please have your Care Card number available.
See Booking An Appointment (PDF) for more information about booking an appointment.On the day of your appointment: please wear a two-piece outfit (you undress from the waist up) and do not wear perfume, deodorant or talcum powder. No doctor's referral is needed and an appointment takes about 15 minutes. Find a location near you.
Decision Aid
The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), in partnership with the provincial breast cancer screening programs, has developed “Information on Mammography for Women Aged 40 and Older: A Decision Aid for Breast Cancer Screening in Canada”. In this decision aid, you will learn about breast cancer risks, mammography’s benefits and harms, and how to decide about screening mammography based on your age group 40-49, 50-69 and 70-79.
Why Mammograms are Important
Aging is the highest risk factor for breast cancer. Regular screening mammograms are one of the best ways to monitor your breast health because they can find most types of breast cancer early, usually before it has spread. Listen to a CBC Radio interview about the importance of screening mammograms. For more information about SMP, click on the links on the left-side of this screen.
View How a Mammogram is Given
View a short presentation about what happens when you have a screening mammogram - please choose your language preference:
More Information
Need a Doctor?
If you need a family doctor, go to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC directory or go to http://www.cpsbc.ca/ and click on the "Find a Doctor" link. You can also look for a Naturopathic Doctor at the BC Naturopathic Association.
Some walk-in clinics have agreed to receive the results of a screening mammogram for the specific purpose of providing follow-up referrals, if needed. Please call SMP at 1-800-663-9203 to find out if there is a clinic near you.
Your Comments
We are interested in your comments and suggestions to improve our services. Please share them by sending an email to Smp-BC@bccancer.bc.ca or call Administration at 604-877-6200.
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