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What to Consider Before Getting Cancer Treatment in Texas

Author: Lewisville Cancer Care
by Lewisville Cancer Care
Posted: Nov 27, 2018

A cancer diagnosis affects more than the physical body. It also affects your emotions and relationships. Life is never the same after a cancer diagnosis, and people respond to diagnosis in different ways.

Both the patient and their family have a lot of decisions to make in a short time including the place to go for treatment, the cost of the treatment and what your insurance will cover, travel expenses if there are any, and much more. As a cancer patient, you have to take an active role in your cancer care and make treatment decisions that are best for you and those you love.

Before choosing a cancer treatment, you can consider the following issues first:

  • Second opinion – After receiving your cancer diagnosis from your primary care physician, it is best to opt for a second opinion from a cancer specialist. Most health insurance plans support second opinions before they cover some of the treatment costs. If the specialist confirms the first diagnosis, they will advise on the available treatment options for your type of cancer.
  • Prognosis – A prognosis is the best estimate from a cancer specialist of how your cancer is going to respond to treatment and what your life expectancy is going to be after treatment. Patients whose cancer is discovered early undergo minor treatment compared to those with advanced cancer who may need a few treatment options or may have a low survival rate due to an aggressive form of cancer. You may proceed with treatment after receiving the worst news from prognosis or refuse treatment, but consider making a decision that is fair to you and your loved ones. Your cancer care team will help you to make a wise decision.
  • The Cost of Treatment/Insurance Coverage – Cancer treatment can be quite expensive because of the sophisticated techniques, medicine, and machinery involved. Some treatments may require you to stay at the hospital for a night or more, adding to the overall cost. Your health insurance plan may not cover all the costs of the treatment, and so you have to find out what your insurance company will be covering and how you are going to shoulder the rest of the costs.
  • Traveling for treatment – You may need to travel to another region for your cancer treatment. This means added travel and lodging costs, which must be considered alongside the treatment costs.
  • Advance Care Planning – A patient should understand clearly their cancer diagnosis and treatment goals. Through advance care planning, you will identify your cancer care preferences and how they should be handled in case you are unable to do so. You can discuss such information with your health care team and family and complete the necessary advance directives before you commence treatment. The advance directives include Living Will, Medical Power of Attorney, and Out of Hospital Do-Not-Resuscitate order.
  • Clinical Trials – As a newly diagnosed cancer patient, you may be eligible to enroll for clinical trial and stand a chance to get new drugs or treatments that may turn out to be better than standard care and have your cancer respond positively to the treatment.

In the case that you decide to proceed with treatment after your diagnosis, you will have to take time to choose the best oncology and cancer care center that will take care of your particular type of cancer.

About Author

Lewisville/Flower Mound Oncology Group, a division of Choice Cancer Care – is an independently owned and operated oncology practice that is completely focused on unique, comprehensive patient care.

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Author: Lewisville Cancer Care

Lewisville Cancer Care

Member since: Jan 17, 2018
Published articles: 1

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