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03-02-2022

Celebrating the World Cancer Day is a reminder of the health check-up

Iliustracija

As February 4th – the World Cancer Day approaches, health insurance funds are calling on the population to prevent this insidious disease in a timely manner and to undergo health check-ups under cancer prevention programs. The sooner your doctor detects the disease, the more likely you are to recover.

There are five disease prevention programs in Lithuania, four of which are for the prevention of cervical, breast, prostate and colon cancer. The costs of these programs are reimbursed by health insurance funds from the Compulsory Health Insurance Fund (CHIF).

To check with cancer prevention programs, you should first consult your family doctor. The tests can also be prescribed for people who are not in the target age group of the above programs, but who are symptomatic or suspected. In this case, the patient should also consult a family doctor, who will assess the condition and, if necessary, prescribe tests and refer them to a specialist doctor.

The cervical cancer prevention program is for women between the ages of 25 and 59 (inclusive). For women aged 25to 34 (inclusive), a cervical cytology test is performed every three years. Women between the age of 35 to 59 (inclusive) should undergo a cervical high-risk human papillomavirus (HRHPV) testing every five years and a liquid-based cytology if the HRHPV test is positive. After obtaining the results of the smears, a biopsy may be performed, which allows the diagnosis of the disease to be objectively confirmed or ruled out.

The breast cancer prevention program is for women between the ages of 50 and 69 (inclusive) who may have a mammogram every two years. Upon receipt of a referral from a family doctor for this examination, it is possible to register in advance (on arrival or by telephone) at a healthcare facility with mammography equipment. The results of the test are reported by the family doctor after receiving them from the mammogram evaluation institution.

The Prostate Cancer Early Diagnosis Prevention Program is for men between the ages of 50 and 69 (inclusive) and men over the age of 45 if their parents or siblings had prostate cancer. They may have periodic blood tests to check the levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in their blood. If the PSA level exceeds the norm, the family doctor will issue a referral to see a urologist. A biopsy of the prostate gland is performed for the patient if necessary.

The colon cancer prevention program is for men and women between the ages of 50 and 74 (inclusive) who may be tested for secret bleeding once every two years. If the test is negative - the patient is healthy, if the answer is positive - the GP will refer you to a specialist for further examination. Colonoscopy and, if necessary, biopsy allow the diagnosis of colon cancer to be objectively confirmed or ruled out.

Every year, health insurance funds allocate more and more CHIF funds to cancer prevention programs. Last year, 13.9 million euros was allocated for this. EUR 18.8 million euros is planned to be allocated this year.

It is reminded that for people who are covered by compulsory health insurance, participation in prevention programs is free of charge if you apply to a medical institution that has a contract with a territorial health insurance fund.

For more information on disease prevention programs, see here.

Information of the Šiauliai Territorial Health Insurance Fund

The NHIF invites you:

Your questions are welcome by email [email protected] or phone: local (8 5) 232 2222, international +370 5 232 222

Last updated: 28-03-2022

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