Taking Control of Your Health After a Cancer Diagnosis

By ANDREA NEEDHAM/for The Herald

Receiving a cancer diagnosis can be a frightening moment, and you may feel that your life is out of your control. However, there are many ways to take charge of your health and ensure that you are receiving the best care possible. Keep reading to learn more about how to become an advocate for yourself and stay on top of your health journey, courtesy of Highway 58 Herald.

Take Control Where You Can

Taking charge of your own health means leading a healthier lifestyle. This could include eating nutritious meals, exercising regularly, quitting smoking, and reducing stress as much as possible. You don’t have to completely overhaul your lifestyle overnight but making small changes over time will help you get closer towards good health.

Find the Right Healthcare Professionals

Finding the right healthcare professionals can make all the difference in managing your health after a cancer diagnosis. Look for doctors who specialize in cancer treatment and research so that you are receiving the highest-quality care available. Make sure to ask any potential doctors questions about their experience with cancer patients and read reviews from other patients before making any decisions.

Understand What Your Insurance Will Cover

Understand what treatments or procedures will be covered under your insurance policy before they are performed so there are no surprises when it comes time to pay the bill. A lot of insurance companies have policies that are specific to cancer care, so make sure you understand what is covered and what isn’t. Additionally, you may want to explore additional coverage options such as supplemental insurance if necessary to cover any remaining expenses due to unexpected treatments or procedures not included in your policy.

Don’t Be Afraid to Get a Second Opinion

Don’t be afraid to ask questions or seek out medical opinions from other clinicians or medical experts. This shows you are taking proactive steps towards your recovery, which can often help give people peace of mind during a very stressful time. While getting additional opinions may require time and money, the extra comfort it can bring may prove invaluable. Ultimately the decision on what course of treatment to follow comes down to you, so choose the path that feels right for your recovery journey.

Review Your Medical Bills for Errors

Medical bills can be confusing at times which is why it is important for anyone receiving medical care after a cancer diagnosis to review their bills thoroughly for errors before paying them off entirely. Common mistakes include incorrect coding or billing for services not received which could cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars if not caught early enough before payment has been made!

Organize Your Medical Records

By digitizing your medical documents and storing them in a designated folder on your computer or in the cloud, you can easily access them whenever you need to without having to sift through stacks of paper. Additionally, having digital copies of your medical records can come in handy when traveling or switching healthcare providers. If you want to merge multiple files into one PDF, you may consider this option, which you can use for free.

Seek Free Preventative Care Programs

The Affordable Care Act provides free preventive care such as annual checkups, screenings, and vaccinations which can help catch diseases like cancer early before they spread too far. This alone could potentially save lives down the line. So don’t forget about taking advantage of these free services under ACA as they could make all the difference later on.

Being an advocate for yourself after receiving a cancer diagnosis is incredibly important. Understanding what treatments will be covered by insurance, getting a second opinion, and keeping organized medical records are just some of the ways you can take control over some aspects of life while also ensuring that you receive high-quality care every step along this journey.

Highway 58 Herald is proud to serve and inform the community. Questions? Call (458) 675-9203.