Being diagnosed with having cancer is just the beginning of your journey to get healthy again. You'll likely be offered multiple cancer treatment options depending on your specific needs and the healthcare provider you are working. The treatment option you choose will help you get started on the road to recovery. Here are a few important questions that should be asked about each cancer treatment options you are offered before choosing one:
What's the Treatment Process Timeline?
It's important to find out how long you can expect the treatment process to take so you know what kind of planning and preparing you'll need to do before treatment begins. While one option like chemotherapy might play out over the course of a month, another treatment option such as one that includes taking prescription pills might take months to complete.
If you choose a treatment option without knowing a timeline of how long the process should take, you may find managing your home life and healthcare life difficult. For example, you might have a vacation planned in a few months and if your treatment hasn't been completed, you'll likely have to cancel it. There might be a better option to consider that wouldn't inhibit your ability to travel later on.
What are the Specific Side Effects to Worry About?
Every cancer treatment option comes with side effect warnings to consider, but you might be more vulnerable to some side effect risks than others depending on your overall health and your lifestyle choices. So you should sit down with your doctor and consider how the side effects of each treatment option might affect your physical or mental health in any way based on your specific medical history.
If there are any specific side effects to worry about, your doctor may be able to recommend making lifestyle changes, like quitting smoking or exercising a little more, to help combat the risks of the side effects. From there, you can determine which treatment option would be the safest one for you to choose.
What if Insurance Stops Paying for the Treatment?
If you choose a treatment option that will take months or longer to complete, you should consider how the treatment will be paid for long-term. While your insurance company might pay for most of the treatment now, that could change in the future as new treatment options become available and insurance policies change.
Ask your doctor how they'll handle a discontinuation of payment from your insurance company. For example, will they work with you to find another treatment option that your insurance does cover, or will they accept a payment plan for the treatment that isn't covered so you can continue on it?