Email and text (SMS) notifications for BC Cancer screening letters now available on Health Gateway

Health Minister Josie Osborne Photo: X

PEOPLE in British Columbia with a Health Gateway account can now receive email and/or text message (SMS) notifications when important letters from BC Cancer’s breast, cervix, colon and lung screening programs are added to their account, encouraging more people to be proactive about their health.

“When it comes to cancer care, early detection can make all the difference,” said Josie Osborne, Minister of Health. “This new notification process will help more people receive timely screening reminders, making it easier to stay on top of their health, act sooner, and improve outcomes for patients across B.C.”

Health Gateway can send an email and/or text message (SMS) when a BC Cancer screening letter requiring action is added to a user’s account, for example, a reminder that it’s time to screen or a result that needs follow-up.

This enhancement, which follows the addition of BC Cancer screening letters to Health Gateway in 2024, improves timely access to personal health information, advances BC’s digital health goals and is in alignment with B.C.’s 10-Year Cancer Action Plan goal to better prevent and detect cancer by strengthening screening services.

Currently nearly 200,000 screening reminder and results letters are mailed to British Columbians each month to support cervical, breast, lung, and colon screening. BC Cancer will continue to send screening reminders and results by mail when follow-up is required. There will be no changes to how BC Cancer communicates patient screening information to health care providers.

Each of BC Cancer’s four provincial screening programs has specific eligibility criteria based on factors like age, risk level and health history. In general, cervix screening begins at age 25, breast screening at age 40, colon screening at age 50 and lung screening at age 55 for those who qualify. Visit www.bccancer.bc.ca/screening for more information.

Once a person books and completes their first screening, they’ll begin receiving reminder letters when their next screening is due. Screening intervals can vary depending on the program and your individual health history.

“With regular screening, you can find issues before symptoms appear,” said Dr. Fabio Feldman, BC Cancer’s executive director, prevention, screening and hereditary cancer program. “If you’re eligible, visit our website to find out how to get started. It only takes a few minutes and it can be life-changing.”

Health Gateway is a free, secure online portal for BC residents aged 12 and older to access information in their personal health record. People can use Health Gateway on a phone, tablet or computer to view information, including lab results, immunizations and the following BC Cancer screening letters:

  • Screening reminders when it’s time to book a test (all screening programs).
  • Result letters for breast screening, cervix screening, colon screening (for screening completed using the FIT) and lung screening (selected normal or abnormal results).

Only screening letters created on or after the date a person signs up for Health Gateway will appear in their account. Depending on when a person has signed up, digital copies of letters are available as far back as January 2024.

Health Gateway sends email and/or text message (SMS) notifications when a new screening letter that requires action is added to an individual’s account. The email and/or text (SMS) notification identifies which screening program has shared the letter and includes a link to log in to Health Gateway to view it. Emails and/or text (SMS) messages are not sent for letters that do not require action, such as many normal results.

Health Gateway users can change their preferences for email and/or text message (SMS) notifications at any time by logging in, going to their profile and adjusting notification settings. Step-by-step instructions are available through the Health Gateway support guide.

Learn More:

  • Anyone 12 years and older can use Health Gateway. Only you can access your account. To register, have your BC Services Card ready and gain access to Health Gateway here.
  • For more information on the 10-Year B.C. Cancer Action Plan and progress to date, visit this site.

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