Colorectal cancer, commonly referred to as colon cancer, is an abnormal pattern of growth of cells that invade and destroy the health surrounding tissue and may spread to distant sites. Cancer is life-threatening and early diagnosis, rapid treatment and proper monitoring is therefore essential. Malignant tumors may arise anywhere in the body and sometimes this spreads to the colon and rectum in which case it is known as a secondary tumor or metastases. If the tumor originates within the colon and rectum, then it is known as a primary tumor. Colorectal cancer is a very common types of cancer and a person with risk factors, like a family history of colorectal cancer, needs to be tested regularly.
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What is colon cancer?
Colon cancer is a malignant growth in the colon. It usually affects the rectum as well so the joint term is coloretal cancer (CRC). The colon is the longest part of the large intestine and processes all the waste material in the bowels that are eventually passed into the rectum and evacuated as faeces. Like the rest of the gut, it is lined with epithelium known as the mucosa. Most colorectal cancers starts as overgrowths of mucosal tissue know as polyps or adenomas. Not every polyp is cancerous though. Colorectal cancer is among the five most common types of cancers and screening in high risk individuals is advisable.
The list of registered South African medical aids was sourced from the Councils of Medical Schemes website. Some of these medical aids may have discontinued business or changed their contact details. This list serves as a guide and Vitacare Health will not be held liable for any incorrect information. Always refer to the medical aid’s website or phone the call centre for more information. New medical aids may not be listed here.
A restricted medical aid means that only employees of a certain company or workers of a specific sector of industry can join the medical scheme. It is not open to the general public. Always refer to the contact numbers on your latest medical aid card for the most up to date details. Your medical aid may have different contact numbers for general enquiries, hospital authorisation and emergency services.
Bowel movements should be regular and ideally at least once daily. The stool should be soft but firm and pass out without any pain or straining. However, bowel habit varies from person to person. It is normal to have a bowel movement between 3 times a day and 3 times a week. The stool may also vary among different bowel movements even within the same day. Constipation is defined by having :
- fewer than 3 bowel movements per week.
- passing hard stools.
- straining to defecate.
- feeling of incomplete bowel movement after defecating.
Pain may be present when passing stool and at times manual intervention may be necessary to remove the stool and facilitate defecation. Constipation is a symptom and its presentation may vary among individuals but most people who are constipated experience two or more of the features above.
Deciding on whether to opt for full (comprehensive) medical aid cover or a hospital plan only, depends largely on the individual and one’s budget. A hospital plan is more affordable and offers protection for the most expensive of services – hospital care. However, one’s medical needs may not require hospitalisation and can still be costly to the point that it can be unaffordable. In this respect, comprehensive cover or full medical aid cover offers the best of both worlds. Fortunately recent changes in private healthcare legislation has now offered the consumer, even those without full medical aid cover, the protection for certain life-threatening chronic ailments.
Private medical aid is not compulsory for South Africans but is often considered as a necessity by most given the overburdened public health system. Medical aid is a form of insurance that differs from medical insurance and national health insurance. The latter, national health insurance, is not as yet available in South Africa (2011). However, it has been planned for the near future and this will most likely be necessary for all South Africans irrespective of whether they have private medical aid or not. For now, and for most of the foreseeable future, medical aid will be the tool to access quality healthcare without the restrictions that befall many who opt for public healthcare.
