Published by Aafiyat Medical Centre · October 2026

Short answer: Most men should have their blood pressure checked at regular visits, blood tests for diabetes and cholesterol from age 40 (earlier if at higher risk), and a stool test (FIT) for colon cancer every 2 years from age 45 to 74. At 65, Ontario offers a one-time ultrasound to check for an abdominal aortic aneurysm. Whether to have a PSA test for prostate cancer is a decision to make with your doctor.

Many men only see a doctor when something is wrong. A regular checkup is a chance to catch problems such as high blood pressure or diabetes early, often before they cause any symptoms.

Blood pressure

High blood pressure usually has no symptoms. Have it checked at your regular visits, and more often if it has been borderline or high before.

Diabetes

Diabetes Canada recommends a blood test every 3 years from age 40. You may need testing earlier or more often if you are at higher risk, for example if you have a family history of diabetes, carry extra weight, or are of South Asian, Arab, African, Asian, Hispanic or Indigenous background.

Cholesterol and heart risk

Cholesterol testing is recommended from age 40, or earlier if you have risk factors such as diabetes, high blood pressure, smoking or a family history of early heart disease. You usually do not need to fast for the test. Your doctor combines the results with your other risk factors to estimate your heart risk and discuss how to lower it.

Colon cancer: screening now starts at 45

Since July 1, 2026, Ontario’s colon cancer screening starts at 45 instead of 50. Men at average risk aged 45 to 74 should do a FIT stool test every 2 years. It is done at home, and the kit is mailed to you once your family doctor or nurse practitioner orders it. If you do not have one, you can arrange it through Health811 by calling 811. If a parent, brother, sister or child has had colon cancer, ask your doctor whether you need a colonoscopy instead.

Prostate cancer and the PSA test

The PSA blood test can find some prostate cancers early, but it can also lead to extra tests and treatment for cancers that would never have caused harm. That is why guidelines recommend talking through the benefits and downsides with your doctor before deciding.

In Ontario, OHIP covers the PSA test when your doctor suspects prostate cancer, or to monitor you after a diagnosis. If you have no symptoms and choose to have it for screening, you pay for the test yourself.

See your doctor, whatever your age, if you have trouble passing urine, need to go much more often, see blood in your urine, or have new pain in your back or hips.

At 65: a one-time aneurysm check

An abdominal aortic aneurysm is a bulge in the main blood vessel in the abdomen. It usually causes no symptoms until it becomes dangerous. Since September 2025, Ontario’s screening program invites people at 65 for a one-time ultrasound, ordered by their primary care provider.

If you smoke, or used to

Ontario’s lung cancer screening program offers low-dose CT scans to people aged 55 to 80 who have smoked daily for at least 20 years (not necessarily in a row), whether they still smoke or have quit. A short risk assessment then confirms whether you qualify. Ask your doctor whether you are eligible, or contact a screening site directly.

Men’s health at Aafiyat Medical Centre

At Aafiyat Medical Centre in Mississauga, our doctors provide regular checkups, heart risk assessments, prostate health checks, care for erectile dysfunction, and ongoing management of diabetes, blood pressure and cholesterol. Learn more about men’s health at Aafiyat.

No family doctor? Several of our family doctors are accepting new patients: see who’s accepting. You can also call, text or WhatsApp 289-813-0786.

Sources

This article is general information and is not a substitute for advice from your own doctor.