Screening tests: What, when and how often?

How well do you know your health numbers? When last did you do your cholesterol, blood sugar, blood pressure or HIV tests? And what about cancer screenings and other such checks? These are the easiest ways to catch potentially serious diseases early and deal with them as soon as possible.

"Going for regular preventive screening checks is an investment in your own health," says Dr Noluthando Nematswerani.

"Keeping up with these checks is the only way to catch potentially devastating illnesses like diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, cancer and others early on. The health checks that detect the early onset of these conditions are the simplest, fastest way to screen for common conditions that can cause serious healthcare complications if they're not diagnosed."

So, which regular preventive screening tests should you complete?

Remedi Medical Aid Scheme members have access to essential screening and prevention benefits for a range of life-saving checks. These include:

Mammograms (for breast cancer screening)
Pap smears (for cervical cancer screening)
Bowel cancer screening tests, which include one faecal occult blood test or immunochemical test every two years for members between the ages of 45 and 75 years.

The following tests are done during your health check (which takes about 30 minutes to complete):

HIV testing
Body mass index (BMI - the ratio of your weight to height) to check if your weight is higher than what it should be
Blood glucose testing (for diabetes)
Blood pressure testing (for hypertension)
Cholesterol testing (for hypercholesterolemia (high cholesterol))

Have your health check today

Find out your blood pressure, blood glucose levels, cholesterol and BMI by doing your screening tests at Clicks or Dis-Chem.
Find out more about your screening and prevention benefits and read the benefit guide.
We pay for these screening tests from your Screening and Prevention Benefit. This means it won't affect your day-to-day benefits.

Screening checks for seniors

Members aged 65 years and older have cover for an age-appropriate falls risk screening assessment in our Wellness network, up to a maximum of the Scheme Rate.

You may have cover for an additional falls risk assessment when referred to a Premier Plus GP, depending on your screening test results and if you meet the Scheme's clinical entry criteria.

You can have one test a year in our defined pharmacy network. Any additional tests will be paid from your available day-to-day benefits, where applicable.

Important:

It is important to note that a Premier Plus GP is a network GP who has contracted with us to provide you with coordinated care for a list of defined chronic conditions. Members must check with their regular GP if he/she is registered in the Premier Plus GP network before proceeding with these tests and assessments.

More detail on cancer-screening checks

When, and how often, you go for routine screening tests for cancer depends on your cancer risk profile.

Screening for breast

If you have no family history of breast cancer, you should start having mammograms (breast ultrasounds) from the age of 40 and do them at least every two years.
If you have a family history of breast cancer, start your screening tests when you are ten years younger than the person who had cancer in your family was when they were diagnosed. A screening test, in instances such as these, doing them once a year is recommended.

Screening for cervical cancer

This test finds abnormal cells so that they can be treated before they have a chance to turn into a cervical cancer.

For those who don't have a high risk of cervical cancer, screening should start from age 25. It's recommended they have either:
- A Pap smear at least every three years, or
- Human papillomavirus (HPV) screening at least every five years.

Keep in mind that a Pap smear looks for precancerous cells that might become cervical cancer if not treated. An HPV test checks for the type of HPV that can lead to cervical cancer.

For those who do have a high risk of cervical cancer (such as people living with HIV), a Pap smear once a year and HPV screening every three years are recommended.

Screening for colorectal cancer

Stool-based tests are recommended at least every two years from the age of 45.
A colonoscopy is recommended for those at a high risk of developing this cancer, such as people with a family history of colorectal cancer or those living with medical conditions that increase the risk of colorectal cancer.

For more information on your screening and prevention benefits, read page 19 of the Remedi brochure at www.yourremedi.co.za. Follow this pathway once you logged in: Find a document > Benefit Brochures.