Experts urge to use the opportunity to sign up for a screening under a colon cancer prevention program
Colon cancer is the fourth most common malignancy after prostate cancer, other skin tumours and breast cancer. March is dedicated to colon cancer prevention, so health insurance funds experts are urging to take steps to prevent this insidious disease. Experts encourage to take advantage of the state-offered prevention programme and check your health for free.
Persons, covered by Compulsory Health Insurance (CHI) and intending to take part at the colon cancer prevention programme, should first address their general physician, who will provide detailed information on the programme and conduct a faecal occult blood test. In case of positive results, the physician will refer to an expert doctor for further testing.
This programme is available for men and women, ages 50-74 (inclusive) once every two years. The services for CHI-covered persons are free of charge, covered by health insurance Funds, using CHI funds.
Patients that do not fall into the age group, but experience certain symptoms and are worried about their health, should not wait for the preventive screening term. They should immediately contact their general physician, who, upon conducting the necessary testing, will identify the cause of illness and, if needed, initiate treatment.
According to the statistics of preventive screening, conducted in the year before last, people were less likely to seek treatment during the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic. However, statistics have slightly improved in 2021.
According to the health insurance funds, only 25 thousand out of 75 thousand patients in Klaipėda THIF have used the opportunity to check their health according to colon cancer prevention programme in 2020. Last year, the opportunity was used by 40 thousand out of 70 thousand.
Experts of health insurance funds urge to take advantage of the colon cancer prevention programme and invite for regular check-ups. Treatment is much easier and more effective if illnesses are diagnosed early.
In 2020, colon cancer prevention programme has been allocated nearly 5.7 million EUR from CHIF funds. This is 800 thousand EUR more than last year.
Health insurance funds have also reminded that CHI-covered persons can check their health under five prevention programmes: cervix cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, colon cancer, and cardiovascular diseases.
Klaipėda THIF information
(Piktochart photo)
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Last updated: 06-04-2022
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