NL Health Services’ health care app is expanding to include self-referrals for colon and breast cancer screening.
The MyHealthNL App allows residents to check their personal health record, including things like lab and x-ray or CT imaging results, pathology reports, and a list of prescribed medications, as well as a symptom checker and links to a variety of resources.
Now users will be able to refer themselves for breast cancer and colon cancer screening appointments.
Breast cancer screening is available for those between the ages of 40 and 75, while those between the ages of 50 and 74 are eligible for colon cancer screening.
CEO Pat Parfrey says the development is an important one.
He says Newfoundland and Labrador has the lowest life expectancy in the country, a statistic driven by cancer and cardio-vascular mortality.
He says while lifestyle factors and social determinants are some of the main causes, “it is also strongly influenced by the capacity to screen people for cancers that are either going to occur, or are maybe at a very early stage.”
Tony Wakeham and Krista Lynn Howell, May 21, 2025
Opposition questions health minister on NL’s cancer care stats
Meanwhile, timely cancer treatment was the topic of debate in the House of Assembly this afternoon.
Opposition Leader Tony Wakeham questioned Health Minister Krista Lynn Howell on stats released by the Canadian Institute for Health Information showing that Newfoundland and Labrador lags far behind national benchmarks set for timely cancer treatment – with just 57 per cent of cases between April and September of 2023 falling within benchmark timelines.
“The evidence is clear,” says Wakeham, “timely cancer treatment is critical for improving outcomes, yet while the national average for timely care was at 94 per cent, our province lagged far behind at just 57 per cent.” He asked Minister Howell “why are we failing patients in desperate need of life-saving treatment?”
Minister Howell acknowledged that staffing levels play a part. “We’ve worked diligently on our recruitment and retention efforts, and I think the most important thing we recognize in any disease process is the prevention aspect,” she said, referencing the MyHealthNL app now allowing people to book their own colon and breast screening appointments.
The province and NLHS are offering instructions on how to book appointments
New users can register for the MyHealthNL app by:
- Downloading the app on mobile devices on the Apple and Google Play app stores.
- Logging in to MyGovNL.
- Clicking Personal Health Record.
- Submitting the registration form.
- Entering the activation code sent via mail.
A demonstration video of the MyHealthNL app is available online.
