Breast Care Program
Breast Care Program at St. Joseph’s Health Care London
Our program offers comprehensive breast imaging, diagnostic, and surgery services, provided by an interdisciplinary team of care, including surgeons, radiologists, medical radiation technologists, nurse navigators, advanced practice nurses, social workers, spiritual care, and more.
This consolidated program improves access, coordination of care, education and support for patients requiring breast care
All patients referred to the breast care program are seen in the unique, specially-designed Norton and Lucille Wolf Breast Care Centre, the main hub of St. Joseph’s Breast Care Program.
Radiation therapy and chemotherapy, for patients undergoing treatment, are located at the London Regional Cancer Program of London Health Sciences Centre.
Routine breast screening at St. Joseph's
Finding cancer early is important. Breast screening and better treatments are helping to reduce deaths from cancer.
Regular breast screening can find cancer when it is small, which means:
• There is a better chance of treating the cancer successfully.
• It is less likely to spread.
• More treatment options may be available
St. Joseph’s Hospital is one of over 200 affiliate sites of the Ontario Breast Screening Program (OBSP), funded by Cancer Care Ontario, providing routine screening mammography to women of all ages. To self-refer to St. Joseph's Hospital if eligible, call 519-646-6100 ext. 64603. See below for eligibility.
Please note: St. Joseph’s Hospital manages the highest volumes of routine breast screening in the region, resulting in longer wait times than other OBSP screening locations. We understand that your screening appointment is important. You may choose an alternative location for your routine breast screening, including:
St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital
519-631-2030 ext. 2517
Fax-519-631-8842
Strathroy Middlesex General Hospital
519-246-5200
Central Booking: 1-866-269-8384
Stratford General Hospital
519-272-8210 ext. 2339
For a full list of OBSP locations in London and region, visit the Cancer Care Ontario website. (Click on "Breast Screening - Mammogram Wait Times" and type in your city or postal code for all locations in that area.)
WAIT TIMES: Ontario Health offers a central website to help identify wait times for breast screening. You can find the information by visiting: Wait Times | Ontario Health
If you are a woman age 50 and over
You can be referred by your family physician or you can schedule your own screening mammogram appointment through the OBSP program, at a location of your choice.
If you are a woman between the ages of 40 and 49
Effective October 8, 2024, people in Ontario ages 40 to 49 can self-refer for breast cancer screening in the OBSP. A referral from a primary care provider is no longer required. Those in this age group should make an informed decision about whether breast cancer screening is right for them. The OBSP encourages people to speak with their doctor, their nurse practitioner or a Health811 navigator about their personal risk for breast cancer, the potential benefits and potential harms of breast cancer screening, and what matters most to them in taking care of their health.
If you are a woman between the ages of 30 and 69
If you fall into this age group and you think you may be at high risk for breast cancer, you should talk to your family doctor about a referral to the OBSP.
Referrals for high-risk patients are based on specific criteria, such as genetics and a family or medical history.
Learn more about breast screening.
Breast care research at St. Joseph's
Breast care research is a key focus at St. Joseph’s. Through partnerships and collaboration with Lawson Health Research Institute, Robarts Research Institute, London Health Sciences Centre and The University of Western Ontario, members of the breast care team are committed to improving care and outcomes for breast care patients.
Depending on your diagnosis, you may have an opportunity to participate in important clinical studies.
