Let's talk about Cervical Cancer Awareness

As the world marks World Cancer Day on 4 February let's take a moment to talk about Cervical Cancer - the least talked about cancer of them all.

Surprising is it not, when one considers that cervical cancer kills more women in our country than any other cancer. This year an estimated 3 700 women will once again lose their lives because of cervical cancer in South Africa. 

More about cervical cancer

Worldwide cervical cancer is, after breast cancer, the second leading cause of cancer in women causing over 270 000 deaths per year. It occurs when infection with the human papillomavirus becomes persistent and progresses to cancer. 

Up to 80 per cent of sexually active women will acquire a human papillomavirus infection in their lifetime, with the risk of persistence increasing with age. Approximately 100 types of human papillomavirus have been identified to date and, of these, approximately 15 virus types are considered to cause cervical cancer.   Virus types 16, 18, 45 and 31 are responsible for approximately 80 percent of cervical cancers globally.

Diagnosed with cancer?
What GEMS' Oncology Programme can do for you

Finding out that you are suffering from a cancer will have a dramatic impact on your life, as well as the lives of your family members and loved ones. The diagnosis will open up a barrage of questions and concerns regarding treatment, the effects on your personal life, the cost implication and the emotional impact of the disease.

To help its members with the clinical and emotional support they need under these circumstances, the Government Employees Medical Schemes (GEMS) has established an Oncology Disease Management Programme. The programme is designed to provide patients with information, personal support and technical know-how with regard to their condition and treatment.

In order for the oncology benefit to be activated members need to receive a pre-authorisation number from the Scheme. The oncologist working with the diagnosed patient will forward their clinical treatment plan to the clinical authorisation section at GEMS, who will then issue a pre-authorisation number. This number will allow the oncologist and patient to schedule all required treatment, including chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

The Gems Oncology Disease Management Programme uses the South African Oncology Consortium (SAOC) in a clinical advisory capacity to ensure that affected members receive clinically accepted cost-effective treatment. More broadly the SAOC was established to facilitate cost-effective oncology treatment to the South African population.

The GEMS Oncology benefit allows all costs associated with the disease such as therapy, the oncologist's consultations, related pathology and general radiology to be covered by the oncology benefit rather than the member's day-to-day benefit. The Oncology benefit also remains active for 12 months after the completion of treatment.

By registering on the Oncology programme GEMS members suffering from cancer know that they are getting the "best practice" treatment, that they can afford and that they have the back up of a support structure that will be able to guide them through it all.