TOTT 14 October 2021

8 Advertising & Newsdesk: (046) 624-4356 Find us on Facebook 14 October 2021 TALK OF THE TOW N
Port
A l f re d BUSINESS FORUM Keeping you up to date on the local business front
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FEELING GOOD
Chance to let
your light shine
Enter the Port Alfred’s Got Talent auditions
COLAB
LUCKY WINNER: Cherry
Smith was the lucky
winner in the monthly
pensioner’s draw
Sunshine Coast SPAR.
Pictured with her is Verlin
Jacobs, one of the
managers at the store
It’s time to see if ‘Port Alfred’s
Got Talent’ ...
Are you an aspiring
musician, or do you have a
band?
Are you are a magician, or a
dancer, or do you have a
unique talent to showcase?
Well, it’s time to start
p ra c t i sing for the auditions that
will take place at Medolino
Caravan Park on Saturday
November 27 in the Port
Alfred’s Got Talent (PAGT)
competition.
All proceeds will go to the
Port Alfred Feral Cat Project.
Susan Coetzee, of
Medolino, has noticed that
since government restrictions
were implemented due to the
Covid pandemic, artists h ave
been unable to perform before
larger audiences and this has
stifled new talent from
emerging.
Coetzee wants to give an
opportunity for the people in
town to show off their talent to
the rest of the community.
“We love the community
and, at Medolino, we want to
provide entertainment for the
whole area,” said Coetzee who,
together with her partner,
Johnny Young, have
comfortably settled in the
community in a short space of
time.
Coetzee said she was now
living her dream.
Now, this is your chance to
live your dream, an opportunity
to begin your journey to
stardom and, even better, there
will be prizes for the winning
act.
These will be explained in
later news releases.In addition
to PAGT, November 27 is also
time for the Medolino Farmers’
Market.
So, while you are shopping
for your favourite local produce
you can drop in, watch and
listen to the auditions.
It is going to be a really fun
and exciting weekend.
PAGT is open to all residents
of the area; from Alexandria to
the Fish River and inland,
including Makhanda
(Grahamstown). There is a
registration fee of R50 per act
and registration forms will be
printed in Talk of the Town
closer to the event.
So, in the meantime, get
your acts in order.
Medical aid cover for
breast cancer differs
GOOD TEAM-UP: Jo Styles, left, and Jamey Ries shared space selling their products at the
Medolino Farmers Market last Saturday. Styles makes environmentally friendly soaps, washing
powder and deodorants and Ries makes products from hemp Picture: JON HOUZET
BIANKA BENNETT
One in every 33 women may be
diagnosed with breast cancer –
the statistics are very real.
While we all hope this is a
reality we will never face, it is
one we should prepare against.
Let’s first look at how you
can reduce the risk through
regular examinations and how
your medical aid can help.
If you notice any changes in
your breasts, such as a new
lump or skin changes, consult
your doctor.
Also, ask your doctor when
to begin mammograms and
other screenings based on your
personal history.
This is of vital importance as
the disease can spread
a g g r e s s ive l y.
In cancer of the breast, with
Stage 1, there is an 80% chance
of survival if caught early.
Most medical schemes have
programmes pertaining to
Preventative or Wellness
Benefits.
These are examples of the
examinations that should be
done:
Mammograms – M a ny
medical aids will cover the cost
of a mammogram every second
year as part of their Wellness or
Preventative screening
p r o g ra m m e .
For high-risk individuals this
may be done annually.
BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene
testing – The BRCA gene test is a
blood test that uses DNA
analysis to identify harmful
changes (mutations) in either
one of the two genes — B R CA 1
and BRCA2.
People who have inherited
mutations in these genes face a
much higher risk of developing
breast and/or ovarian cancer
compared with the general
population.
Clinical Breast Examination
– Every young girl and woman
should know how to selfexamine
their own breasts.
Alternatively, a doctor or
gynaecologist could do this at
least once a year.
All medical aids, even
hospital plans, must provide
Prescribed Minimum Benefits
(PMBs). These are guaranteed
minimum benefits and do
include cover for oncology.
The costs associated with
treating cancer can be huge.
Without medical aid cover
or the financial means to pay for
your treatments in cash, you will
have to settle for treatment at a
public hospital.
Public service strikes,
understaffed facilities and
overworked state employees are
some of the considerations one
must deal with if undergoing
cancer treatment at a state
hospital.
It is then important to
remember that as a cancer
survivor, your chance of
developing cancer again in the
future is higher.
Your medical costs in general
may also be higher depending
on how well you recover after
the initial treatment.
Therefore, medical aid cover
is essential.
The extent of the benefit may
vary among medical aids, so it is
important to understand your
cover and to reassess it from
time to time to ensure it remains
suitable for your stage of life.
Let’s look at some basic
guidelines on how the medical
schemes cover oncology:
All medical schemes will
provide cover for treatable
breast cancer. This will include
in-hospital care, specialist fees,
chemotherapy, radiation, and
medication.
The amount they pay, and
the type of treatment will
depend on the medical aid and
the option you have chosen.
Notify your medical aid
immediately of the diagnosis.
Get pre-authorisation for
treatment.
It is possible your medical
aid will expect you to enrol in
their oncology programme.
Use a designated service
p r ov i d e r so you do not need to
pay in the difference if your
specialist is contracted out of the
medical aid rates.
You and your doctor will
have to submit a treatment plan
to your medical aid. This will
then be evaluated for treatment
and medication.
Some procedures and
treatments are excluded in the
amount your medical aid is
prepared to pay.
Some medical schemes will
pay the cost of a wig, breast
prosthesis, and re-constructive
surgery after a mastectomy.
Each medical aid has their
own rules for services for which
they will pay.
Cancer is a disease that
needs immediate medical care,
and the earlier it is caught the
greater the chance of recovery.
It is therefore important to
consider medical aid cover
while you are young and
healthy, especially if you are at
risk of developing cancer, rather
than waiting for the condition,
or any condition, to set it in.
Contact us to ensure you are
covered for conditions such as
cancer and let us assist you in
making the best decisions.
Contact me at
bianka@edgefinance.co.za