How do I apply for a Dependency Allowance

Where can I buy a prosthesis

How do I go about Organising a funeral here in Spain

Answers:-

What is Cancer?
Cancer is not one disease but many, all with some similar features but all with a distinctive character which varies according to the cancer’s type and location.

There are over 200 types of cancer, but all start in the same way.  Put simply, cancer is a disease of the cells.  The control signals in a normal cell in the body go wrong, resulting in an abnormal cell.  Cells normally divide and replicate themselves as a process of renewal, in a controlled way, but abnormal cells keep on dividing and this forms a lump.

The cluster of abnormal cells is called a tumour.  Some tumours are benign, or harmless, and often don’t need treatment.  But malignant tumours - the cancers - can spread.  They may be dangerous because they can invade nearby parts of the body and stop them working properly.  Cells from malignant tumours can break away and travel to other parts of the body, where they can form new groups of abnormal cells, called secondary growths.  It is therefore possible to have a secondary breast cancer in the lung, for example.

What causes cancer and how quickly the cells grow and spread, is different from person to person.  A large number of people with cancer overcome the disease, or live fulfilled lives for many years.  A poor diet, lack of exercise, being over weight, smoking, heavy drinking, over exposure to the sun and hereditary factors can all contribute to causing cancer.

Adjuvant Therapy - Treatment, usually chemotherapy or radiotherapy given following surgery.　 It is given even if there are no symptoms of cancer at the time of treatment but where the risk of a secondary cancer is thought to be high.

Alopecia - Hairloss

Benign - Non-cancerous, used to refer to tumours which grow slowly in one place and which, once removed by surgery, tend not to recur.

Biopsy - Microscopic examination of a sample of tissue that has been removed from an area of the body where cancer is suspected.　 Sometimes a small sample is taken with a special needle and sometimes a complete growth is removed for examination.

Bone Marrow - The spongy inner part of large bones where blood cells are made.　 Bone marrow aspiration is the removal by fine needle of a small amount of bone marrow for examination.

Bronchoscopy - A test used to examine the inside of the lung.

Cancer - The name given to a group of diseases that occur in any organ of the body, and which all involve abnormal or uncontrolled growth of cells.

Carinogen - A substance that can cause, or help to cause, cancer

Carcinoma - A cancer that arises from the lining of an organ or system.　 They are the commonest cancers.

Chemotherapy - The treatment of disease with chemicals, such a cytotoxic (cancer destroying) drugs.　 The drugs can be given as tablets or more usually by injection or by a drip inserted into the arm by a needle.

Cytology - Microscopic study of individual body cells.

CT (Computed Tomography) scan - Produces a cross-section image of the head and body which is then analysed by computer.

Diagnosis  - Identification of a disease in a person’s body.

What are E121, E106, E111 & E121 forms and why do I need them?
What do I need to receive health care in Spain? 

In this article, I shall endeavour to unravel the mysteries of the
forms and procedures required for both holidaymakers and residents of Spain to receive state health care. As the UK is now
in the EU, there is a reciprocal agreement with Spain to provide
medical cover for UK nationals, depending on the individual
circumstance. However, an anomaly currently exists, as apparently the DHS (formerly the DHSS) say if you are out of the country for more than three months of the year you are no longer considered resident in the UK, while Spain go by the more logical timescale of over six months of the year. In truth, so many individuals are travelling to and from Europe for varying periods of time, it is very difficult for both the Spanish or the British offices to keep track, and many individuals who have a Residencia card in Spain remain on the DHS records in the UK because they have never officially 'de-registered' by notifying their health centre or the DHS.

Before we get too lost in this particular
bureaucratic maze, suffice to say there are four main categories for a UK national to use the Spanish national health services:

A) holidaymakers and people spending occasional periods of time in Spain;
B) pensioners;
C) people of non-retirement age living in Spain who are
unable to work and
D) people intending to live and work legally in Spain, or who have taken early retirement.

A) If you are a visitor to the area (and this applies to anyone who has not applied for a Residencia card, nor has a work contract, nor is self employed), you should contact the Overseas Department of the DHS in Newcastle prior to leaving the UK, and request a form E111, which entitles you to routine medical treatment. The E111 is usually issued for a one year period, and you can normally renew it for a further 12 months. Thereafter, a second renewal will usually be refused as it is apparent you are spending the majority of your time out of the UK, and you will be expected to make provision for medical cover in the country where you are living. If you do need to visit a doctor or hospital, you should present the El11 to them as soon as possible

B) If you are of pensionable age, and intend to live in Spain. you can contact the DHS and request a form E121. This is applicable for British men over 65 years old and women over 60 years old. However, the Costa Blanca will only accept this form if you apply
for, or hold, a Residencia card. The E121 should be handed to the Seguridad Social (Social Security) office in Denia. It provides
permanent health cover and does not need to be renewed. You will be issued with a temporary health card, and in due course, will receive a permanent card and letter confirming the details of your designated doctor and clinic. This will always be in your area, i.e. if you live in Javea, you will be assigned a doctor at the Javea health centre.

C) If you are unable to work, and claim incapacity benefit, you may also apply for a form E121, regardless of your age. If you
do not claim incapacity benefit, you will not be eligible to use this
form. Again, you must apply for a Residencia card in order for the
Spanish social security office to accept your request for state medical care.

D) If you decide to take early retirement, or wish to receive medical cover while you are finding work in Spain, you may
apply for a form E106. Please note you are only eligible to this form if you have been working and/or paying in to the UK system for the last three years. The E106 provides temporary cover, usually for two years: thereafter you will not be able to request an extension. If after expiration of the E106 you have reached retirement age, you can then apply for the E121 as described above. In all other cases, you will be expected to provide your own medical cover, either through private health insurance or by working within the system. With an E106, you do not receive a medical card; you take your El06 form to your local state health centre/doctor in the same manner as an E111. Please note that
private doctors, clinics and hospitals do not accept any of the
European (E) health care forms. It is also important to note that the E121 and El06 forms are regarded as permanent: in other words, you will be transferring your health provision from the UK to Spain. This means that you will still be eligible for cover in the UK, but as a visitor.  Should you decide to return to live in the UK, you should contact the DHS and ask them to re-register you on the British health system.

Turning now to work related cover: at a later date I shall be looking in closer detail at all the paperwork required for self employed individuals, but in respect of health provision, cover is provided both for the worker and their family members by way of a social security monthly payment. For employees, the employer should provide for their social security cover by paying the requisite monthly "stamp" at source.  Again, this includes cover for dependents. There is a new system for registering a dependent of the holder of an E121/E106 form or a self employed/employed individual. An Assistencia Sanitaria form must be completed in duplicate, showing the details of both the person with the health provision and their dependent/s. If the dependent is a wife/husband, the original Marriage Certificate + copy must accompany the form. If the dependent is a child, the Birth Certificate + copy must be produced. If the dependent is a partner, a Certificate of Convivencia must be obtained from the local Town Hall/Guardia Civil. As always, when discussing matters that relate to European regulations, these are evolving as the rules within the EU are refined, and it is quite possible that the above could be in future be modified. Should anything significant change in the coming months, I will endeavour to
advise you accordingly.

ALTHOUGH THIS INFORMATION HAS BEEN ELABORATED WITH THE GREATEST
POSSIBLE CARE, AND ITS CONTENTS ARE CORRECT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
INFORMATION CURRENTLY AT OUR DISPOSAL