Cancer Champions offers compassionate guidance and clarity to you and your loved ones throughout your cancer journey.
As your trusted guide, we empower you and your family with knowledge and confidence to make informed decisions about your cancer care and regain your peace of mind. Schedule a 15 minute get-acquainted call (free)Schedule a 90-minute consultationWith Cancer Champions,
You Don’t Have to Face Cancer Alone
If you or a loved one is feeling overwhelmed and anxious by a cancer diagnosis, compassionate support is available. Cancer Champions can ease your fear and uncertainty by helping you and your loved ones understand your specific disease, collect personalized healthcare information, evaluate your treatment options, and make informed decisions.
Combining oncology knowledge with genuine compassion makes Cancer Champions a trusted advisor that complements your cancer care team and provides peace of mind throughout your cancer journey. Call Dana to learn more about how she can help to create a personalized roadmap to guide you and your family.
CONSULTATION
When you are presented with a difficult diagnosis, most likely you don’t know what you don’t know yet. Because I have professional healthcare experience and have personally been through several cancer journeys, I compassionately work with you to create a personalized roadmap to help you and your family navigate the journey. I also provide resources and informationto to help you take the first steps.
EDUCATION
When you are making critical decisions — you need access to the most relevant information, tailored to your unique situation. With both professional and personal experience researching treatment options and supportive care solutions for individuals facing cancer, I am uniquely qualified to offer families the types of information and resources they will need to make better informed decisions about their care.
FACILITATION
Upon hearing a cancer diagnosis, emotions often take control and inhibit decision making. Anxiety and fear may stifle important conversations that family members and loved ones need to have with the individual fighting cancer. I can help to facilitate these important but difficult conversations, with compassion and a kind and open heart.
7 Questions to Ask Your Oncologist
It’s helpful to have a list of questions to ask your doctor when you are presented with a cancer diagnosis. Here are 7 questions to ask at your next doctor’s appointment.
Recent articles
Caregiving and Cancer
In 2011, the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index reported that more than 1 in 6 Americans working full-time or part-time was assisting with the care of an elderly or disabled family member, relative, or friend.
Today, 7 years later, complex cancer care is shifting away from the inpatient hospital setting and moving into the home. Now more than ever the availability and support of family caregivers is a significant factor in the world of Oncology and putting additional strain on the American workforce.
I recently read the results of a study published in Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing, that was designed to better understand the needs and quality of life concerns of those providing care to a loved one with cancer.
Some common themes that arose from the interviews conducted as part of the study fell into 7 aspects of care.
Physical: Over all, family caregivers expressed a desire to understand the patients’ needs as well as be present, attentive and reassuring. The most repeated theme was the presence of and difficulty of dealing with treatment-related side effects.
Psychological: Uncertainty was a common theme that often gave way to anxiety, stress, and feeling overwhelmed. Many caregivers expressed a desire to be present and offer support even as they faced a lack of emotional energy.
Social: A recurring topic among family caregivers was social isolation, felt both by the one being cared for and the caregiver. Caregivers reported needing support and not just information. A quote from one caregiver,
“ The details about the clinical trials available online needed to be supplemented with a person who could answer questions. “ This caregiver found the information to be confusing, overwhelming and largely indecipherable: “ It’s just a lot of literature that I have no idea about.. I did not go to med school; I don’t know what I’m reading. I need help”
Spiritual: Having a faith community reported to provide a source of support for some caregivers.
Financial: There were many costs associated to care, but the most commonly reported were the expenses of last minute flights, gasoline, overnight hotel stays, restaurant meals, and time lost at work. Even those who reported having healthcare coverage and financial stability voiced anxiety about the financial impact.
Caregiver Self-Care: The majority of the respondents were neglecting self-care in order to care for their loved ones. Many reported a lack of sleep and exhaustion.
The results of this study provide evidence for greater emphasis to be placed on the effects of caring for a loved one with cancer have on family caregivers.
The family caregivers participating in this study voiced their need for support and resources. A Board Certified Private Advocate could supply some of the much-needed support by:
- Helping the family caregiver understand the disease and better anticipate the side effects associated with their loved one’s treatment eliminating much of the anxiety associated with uncertainty
- Connecting the family with community support services to alleviate the isolation and allow the family caregiver an opportunity for self-care
- Providing clarification and understanding of the medical literature, specifically clinical trials and treatment options to increase confidence in decision-making
- Connecting the caregiver with resources to assist with managing the financial burdens associated with a catastrophic illness
If you or someone you know is providing care for a loved one with cancer, please call for a complimentary consult to see how I can help.
703-403-7600 or email dana@cancer-champions.com
Financial Toxicity of Cancer Treatment
What is financial toxicity?
Financial toxicity or financial distress, as it is sometimes referred to, is a result of the financial burden of out-of pocket expenses incurred for medical care that is not covered by your health insurance.
Examples of these costs include:
Deductibles: The amount you are responsible to pay for care before your health insurance plan begins payment.
Co-insurance: The percentage of the cost you pay after your deductible has been met. Ex. Insurance policy covers 80% of cost and you are responsible for the remaining 20%.
Co-Payments: The amount you pay for each doctor’s visit or prescription.
Cancer research has made remarkable strides, yielding new, sophisticated technologies and treatments resulting in improved patient outcomes. However, progress has not come without a cost. As costs increase, the health insurers have shifted some of the burden to patients resulting in higher deductibles and increases in coinsurance and co-payments, all of which are out-of –pocket expenses.
Despite having insurance, many of the out-of-pocket expenses of treatment are significant and people are finding themselves “underinsured”. Several studies have described a variety of strategies patients have adopted to minimize the impact of the out -of -pocket costs of their treatment.
The research shows that the majority of “underinsured” patients altered their life styles in an attempt to afford prescription medications. Some subjects took less than the prescribed amount while others didn’t fill the prescription at all. A large percentage of the study population reduced spending on food and clothing or used their savings in order to meet out- of -pocket demands. A smaller percentage sold property or possessions to defray the cost of their treatment. More research is needed to determine what effect such strategies are having on quality of life and treatment outcomes.
Will you be affected by financial toxicity? The following factors may help you determine your risk.
- The costs related to your care
- The amount of debt you currently carry
- Your assets
- If you are the primary income earner
- Your treatment’s affect on your ability to work
- The breadth of your insurance coverage
- The type of cancer you have been diagnosed with and its severity
One of the first recommendations I make is for clients to assess the assets they have. As a private medical advocate, I have at my disposal a network of vetted professionals and resources to assist clients who are experiencing the very real side affect of financial toxicity.
One such partner is Tracy Shen of The Florin Group. www.floringroup.com
Tracy has been able to review a client’s current portfolio and identify small adjustments that, if made, would yield an increase in their cash flow blunting the impact of out- of- pocket expenses associated with their care.
In addition to consulting your financial planner, you also want to schedule a review with your insurance agent. Depending on your diagnosis and current situation you may be eligible to access cash from an existing policy without penalty.
Additional financial support resources include but are not limited to:
- Co-Payment assistance programs, such as, Cancer Care Inc. Financial Assistance
- Cancer Support Community – coping with out-of-pocket expenses https://www.cancersupportcommunity.org/living-cancer-resources
- Cancer Financial Assistance Coalition, https://www.cancerfac.org/
- Crowdfunding platforms such as YouCaring http://www.giveforward.com/
If you find you are suffering the very real side affect of financial toxicity due to a cancer treatment give me a call to see how I can help. 703-403-7600 or email me at mailto:dana@cancer-champions.com
Do I need Cancer Insurance?
Nobody wants to think about the possibility of receiving a cancer diagnosis. Such a diagnosis strikes fear, shock, and a sense of helplessness in the hearts and minds of everyone affected. In 2016 there were over 1 million new cancer diagnoses.
Fortunately, due to advancements in science and medicine, a cancer diagnosis is not necessarily a death sentence. In fact today there are an estimated 15.5 million cancer survivors in the US and that number is projected to increase to 20 million in 2026.
However, the advances in medicine and technology have not come without a cost and many find it difficult to keep up with treatment costs despite having medical insurance.
Within the last decade, insurance companies have taken note of the rising costs of cancer care and many offer a supplemental insurance plan that provides additional coverage to your regular plan. This new type of cancer insurance is not meant to replace your current medical coverage, but to enhance it by covering many of cancer related expenses not currently covered by basic medical insurance.
What Cancer-specific Insurance Usually Covers
- Co-pays
- Deductibles
- Hospital stays (especially lengthy ones)
- Visits to out-of-network specialists
- Various tests, treatments, and procedures
- Childcare
- Dietary assistance
- Travel and lodging when treatment is far away from home
It is important to double check with the individual insurance company about what is actually covered as this list is not comprehensive to all policies.
How do you know if you should invest in Cancer Insurance?
Companies like QuoteWizard have made it easier to explore your insurance options and suggest you begin by asking yourself the following questions.
If you or one of your family members were diagnosed with cancer, would your current insurance policy cover all the costs? Would your family be able to pay the out of pocket expenses associated with treatment obtained from out-of-network specialists or for therapies that are not network accessible?
Are the extra monthly premium costs associated with a supplemental cancer insurance plan worth the peace of mind it provides? Do the benefits of such a plan outweigh the additional monthly costs? When should I invest in a cancer insurance plan?
Like all insurance, it is impossible to obtain coverage after the fact. That is why QuoteWizard recommends exploring your options before a diagnosis.
To help you in making a decision if a supplemental policy may be right for you please read further.
Is this type of insurance designed to replace my existing medical insurance?
No, supplemental cancer insurance does not replace your health insurance. Cancer insurance augments your health care plan, not replace it.
Health History
Have you been diagnosed with cancer in the past? A previous diagnosis is considered a pre-existing condition and may hinder your ability to obtain cancer specific supplemental insurance. Many of the companies also implore an age threshold. Each company is different.
Family History
Family history and genes both play a role, however, an absence of cancer in your family history does not guarantee you won’t be affected by cancer due to an environmental cause.
Which Insurance Companies Offer Cancer-Specific Insurance?
QuoteWizard’s picks for best companies providing cancer insurance.
- Aflac
- Cigna
- Colonial Life
- Mutual of Omaha
- Physicians Mutual
- MetLife
- Combined
- United Healthcare
- All State
- American Fidelity
What Will Cancer Insurance Cover?
While coverage amounts vary, most cancer policies pay for the following:
- Surgery
- Blood transfusions
- Prescription drugs
- Ambulance Rides
- X-rays
- Radiation
- Chemotherapy
- Nursing
- Doctors’ visits
- Hospital Stays
If you would like further information on cancer insurance such as how much coverage you need, cancer insurance limitations, costs and other important questions, please download a comprehensive cancer insurance guide here.
Schedule a get-acquainted call
The first step is a free 15-minute get-acquainted call to see how I can help. The next step is to schedule our first 90 minute consultation , where I will personalize a roadmap for you and your family, and determine next steps.
