Breast cancer prevention programme – where to go and when?
Although the state provides the means for regular health check-up according to breast cancer prevention programme free of charge, experts of the health insurance funds say that there’s still no breakthrough in this area. Last year, institutions of Klaipėda Territorial Health Insurance Fund (THIF) performed mammograms only to 47 per cent of the target-age women.
Breast cancer is the most common oncological disease among women not only in Lithuania, but the rest of the world. According to the Institute of Hygiene, it ranks second in the group of malignancies.
Women wishing to be tested according to breast cancer prevention programme, must firstly go to their general physician. Upon obtaining a referral from a general physician, it is necessary to book an appointment at an institution, which has a mammography equipment and an agreement with a THIF.
This programme is open to women, aged 50-69 (inclusive). The testing is performed once every two years.
The services, included into the programme, are free of charge as long as the patients are covered by the compulsory health insurance (CHI). They are covered from the Compulsory Health Insurance Fund (CHIF).
According to the health insurance funds, not all women use this opportunity. The population that has participated in the programme in Klaipėda and Tauragė districts last year was below 47 per cent, i.e. only 15.6 thousand out of 33 thousand women eligible for the programme.
Experts of Klaipėda THIF are urging to pay more attention to the prevention of this disease and regular check-ups. This enables to diagnose the malignancies early resulting in 90 per cent women fully recovered.
Although this prevention programme applies to women of a certain age, if you feel unwell, but do not fall into the age group, contact your general physician. The general physician will conduct the necessary examinations and issue a referral to a specialist physician.
Please be reminded that residents with CHI coverage can check their health for free based on five prevention programmes: cervical cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, colon cancer, and cardiovascular diseases.
Klaipėda THIF information
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Last updated: 30-05-2022
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