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Free cancer prevention programs in Lithuania
2025 02 04
February 4th – World Cancer Day, dedicated to raising awareness about cancer, promoting its prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment. Early detection of the disease makes it easier to treat, so it is very important to take care of your health and regularly undergo preventive examinations.
Free preventive programs in Lithuania
Currently, five disease prevention programs are being implemented in Lithuania, funded by the Compulsory Health Insurance Fund (CHIF) through patient funds. They provide an opportunity to detect dangerous diseases early, prevent their progression, and start treatment in time. Preventive programs are designed for patients of a specific age, but if you feel unwell, even if you do not fall within the age range of the program, you should consult your family doctor. They will prescribe the necessary tests and, if necessary, refer you to a specialist.
Cancer prevention programs
Cancer remains one of the leading causes of mortality in Lithuania – about 17–18 thousand new cancer cases are diagnosed annually, but many of them are detected at advanced stages. To reduce morbidity and mortality, four free cancer prevention programs are being implemented in Lithuania:
- Breast cancer prevention program
- Cervical cancer prevention program
- Colorectal cancer prevention program
- Prostate cancer prevention program
How to participate in preventive programs?
To participate in free preventive programs, simply contact your family doctor. They will assess your health condition, inform you about the possibility of undergoing tests, and prescribe the necessary diagnostic tests. If the test results show deviations from the norm, the doctor will prescribe further examinations or treatment.
Why is it important to get checked?
Early-diagnosed cancer is easier to treat and can be completely cured. However, many people avoid check-ups, thinking that "nothing bad will happen" to them or that they have no symptoms. Unfortunately, some forms of cancer have asymptomatic early stages, so regular check-ups are essential.
Let's encourage each other to take care of our health!
Take advantage of free preventive programs, encourage your loved ones to do the same, and share this information. Together, we can prevent cancer and other serious diseases.
Your health is in your hands!
Preventive programs implemented in Lithuania
| Preventive program | Start date | Program intended for | Program measures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cervical cancer early diagnosis program | July 2004 | Women aged 25-59 (inclusive) | Women aged 25-34 (inclusive) undergo a cervical cytology smear test once every 3 years. Women aged 35-59 (inclusive) undergo a high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) test and a cervical cytology smear test in liquid medium once every 5 years (if the HPV test is positive). Based on the smear results, a biopsy may be performed to objectively confirm or rule out the diagnosis. |
| Breast cancer screening mammography funding program | October 2005 | Women aged 45-74 (inclusive) | A mammographic examination is performed once every 2 years. After receiving a referral from a family doctor for a mammographic examination, you can pre-register (in person or by phone) at a healthcare facility with a mammography machine that has a contract with the territorial patient fund. The family doctor will inform you of the results after receiving them from the mammography evaluation facility. |
| Colorectal cancer early diagnosis funding program | July 2009 | Men and women aged 50-74 (inclusive) | A fecal occult blood test is performed once every 2 years. If the test result is negative – the patient is healthy; if the result is positive – the family doctor will issue a referral to a specialist. Colonoscopy and, if necessary, a biopsy allow for an objective confirmation or ruling out of colorectal cancer. |
| Prostate cancer early diagnosis funding program | January 2006 | Men aged 50-69 (inclusive) and men aged 45 and older if their fathers or brothers had prostate cancer | A periodic blood test is performed to determine the concentration of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in the blood. If the PSA level exceeds the norm, the family doctor issues a referral to a urologist, who may perform a prostate biopsy if necessary. |
| Selection and prevention measures funding program for individuals at high risk of cardiovascular diseases | December 2005 | Men and women aged 40-60 (inclusive) | Periodically, the family doctor assesses risk factors and, if necessary, creates an individual cardiovascular disease prevention plan. If the doctor determines that the risk of cardiovascular diseases is very high, the patient is referred to specialized centers for further examination and, if necessary, treatment. It is important to know that glucose, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels in the blood can be periodically determined for free, and an electrocardiogram and other tests can be performed to determine the patient's cardiovascular disease risk group. |