• Oak Valley Health has extended its cervical cancer screening pop-up at CHC Stouffville to March 31.
  • The initiative aims to improve early detection and reach residents at higher risk of cervical cancer.
  • Participants receive a personal care kit alongside screening and health information.
  • Regular screening is critical, as early-stage cervical cancer may show no symptoms.
  • Appointments are available online or by phone, with weekday clinics offered at the Sandiford site.

 

Oak Valley Health is extending its cervical cancer screening pop-up at the Stouffville Community Health Clinic (CHC) through March 31, following its launch during Cervical Cancer Awareness Month in January.

Delivered in partnership with the Eastern York Region North Durham Ontario Health Team and the Central Region Cancer Program, the initiative offers accessible screening aimed at helping “identify those who are at high risk of developing cervical cancer.”

Organizers are encouraging residents to take advantage of the extended program and are offering a personal care kit to participants, including health information, bandages, feminine hygiene items, lip balm, and other essentials.

“Routine cervical cancer screening facilitates early detection of cancer when treatment is most effective,” Courtney May, a nurse practitioner at CHC Stouffville, said in a recent press release. “Screening involves using a soft brush to collect cells from the cervix. These cells are tested for types of HPV that are most responsible for causing cervical cancer.”

According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, 1 in 168 women will develop cervical cancer in their lifetime, and 1 in 478 will die from the disease. Early stages can present with no symptoms, making regular screening a critical tool in prevention.

The screening test takes only minutes. When detected early and proactively managed, cervical cancer is among the most treatable forms of cancer, according to the World Health Organization.

Advance appointments can be booked online or by calling (905) 472-7658. CHC Stouffville is located at 37 Sandiford Dr., Suite 301, and is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

“CHC Stouffville is available for patients of all ages and provides rapid access to providers who specialize in pediatric care,” Oak Valley said in the release. “CHC Stouffville also offers routine primary care services for patients who do not have a family doctor.”

Cover image provided by and used with permission from Oak Valley Health