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When women turn 50, they typically get two birthday cards from the province. One encourages them to schedule a routine mammogram. The other invites them to poop on a stick.
Surprisingly, it’s the stick many dread less.
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Baranyai: As COVID limits ease, undetected breast cancer crisis looms Back to video
The risk of breast and colon cancers increases after age 50. Cancer Care Ontario (now part of the mega-agency, Ontario Health) co-ordinates screening programs for early detection — before symptoms arise.
Last winter, these vital screening services were paused, along with other scheduled procedures, as hospitals and labs freed up pandemic capacity. These were reasonable measures in uncertain times. When clinical screening resumed, however, women didn’t exactly flock back.