This post is sponsored by Sanlam; Photography by Freepik
The earlier your diagnosis, the better your chances of successful treatment-use this cancer screening guideline for the five most common cancers in women…
1. Breast
Every month check your breasts for unfamiliar lumps, dimpling or other changes. Have a yearly mammogram if you’re over the age of 40.
2. Cervical
Have a pap smear every three years, even if you’re had the HPV vaccine.
3. Colorectal
If you’re over the age of 50, you should get screened regularly. Family history? Ask your doc about starting screening earlier.
4. Kaposi Sarcoma
Every you time you have a check-up- ask you doc to give you to give your skin a once-over, signs often include purple, red, or brown skin blotches.
5. Origin Unknown
If you feel something’s not right, get it checked out. You know your body and it’s always better to be safe than sorry.
READ MORE: The Signs Of Ovarian Cancer EVERY Woman Should Know About
Nothing quite prepares you for the “C'” word, but that doesn’t mean you cant plan for it in advance…Hearing the word “cancer” triggers confusion and uncertainty. But one thing you shouldn’t worry about is the financial well-being of you and your family. Having the right plans in place will give you peace of mind that you and your loved ones will be taken care of-freeing you up to focus on the things that matter most.
Take Stock
> Are you responsible for others?
> Do you have dependents?
> Do you have debt that someone else may have to cover if something happens to you?
READ MORE: This Really Simple Image Could Actually Help You Detect Breast Cancer
These are all factors you need to take into account when planning what you cover you need, says Dr Marion Morkel, chief medical advisor at Sanlam Individual Life. ” We often think that having medical-aid cover is sufficient for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, but very few of us consider all of the unintended and unexpected consequences of the disease- the financial impact of the actual medical costs are often not all covered by medical aid”, she says. What’s more, the costs often go beyond simple medical bills.
READ MORE: 3 Random Things That Can Totally Mess With Your Mammogram Results
For example, during treatment, you may need time off work that exceeds your paid leave. Regular household chores may exhaust you to the point that you need to hire help. “We often fail to factor in the recovery period and how financial resources limit or widen our ability to adequately address the disease and its consequences holistically”, says Morkel.
79 — that’s the percentage of Sanlam’s dread disease claims paid for women in 2015 that was for cancer. Of these, 32 percent was for breast cancer and seven percent for melanoma.
