How To Get A Mammogram Without A Doctor's Order

1. You receive a personalized letter inviting you to take part in the program.

If you're a woman between the ages of 50 and 69, you may have already received, or will soon receive, a personalized letter by mail inviting you to participate in the PQDCS. This letter is sent every 2 years. You are free to participate in the program or not.

This letter is your prescription to have a mammogram. It contains information about the Program and tells you how to make an appointment to have a mammogram at a Designated Screening Center (CDD) in your region.

You can participate in the Program even if you do not have a letter. You can get a prescription for a mammogram from your doctor or a primary care nurse practitioner.

If you have not received your letter or have lost it, contact the Regional Service Coordination Center (CCSR) in your region. The Régie de l'assurance maladie du Québec is responsible for giving the names and addresses of women aged 50 to 69 to PQDCS officials. If you have recently moved, Program officials will likely not have your correct mailing address. To find out how to change your address, go on the Changing of Address Under the Québec Breast Cancer Program This hyperlink will open in a new window. page on Services Québec's website.

If you had decided not to participate in the Program and have now changed your mind, you can still register. You must do the following:

Ask for a prescription for a screening mammogram from your doctor or a primary care nurse practitioner.
Sign a consent form during your mammogram appointment.

It is your decision if you do not wish to participate in the PQDCS. However, you can still have a mammogram without registering for the Program by requesting a prescription for a screening mammogram from your doctor or a primary care nurse practitioner.

2. Make an appointment to have a mammogram.

To make an appointment, contact a CDD in your region.

Wait times for a mammogram appointment may vary by CDD. To find out about wait times by CDD, consult the Wait times for access to mammography and other examinations This hyperlink will open in a new window. page on the website of the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux (in French only).

You will find contact info for these centers in your letter or in the Designated Screening Centers (CDD) section.

3. Go to the CDD on the date and time of your appointment with the following:

Your health insurance card
Your hospital card (optional)
Your personalized letter of invitation or the prescription you received from a doctor or primary care nurse practitioner.