Prostate Cancer

Lesson 4: Coping with the After-effects

Financial Considerations

Treatment for cancer isn’t cheap. There is always a high price to pay, both personally and financially. When thinking about Prostate Cancer treatment options, you will have to research what your medical insurance will cover and what you will have to shoulder on your own. This will have to be balanced by the local availability of the treatment you favor. The length of stay for surgery and beam radiation is greater than for Brachytherapy, but the travel expense may eat up the difference.

It would be nice if finances were not a part of the treatment choice, but realistically, if you have to pay for all or some of the cost of your treatment, finances may end up being a factor in the treatment option you decide on. Only you understand what you can financially manage. As well, you need to consider the cost of post-treatment care. With all aggressive treatment options, you will most likely be looking at cancer checkups every 6 to 12 months for the next 10 years.

If you have health insurance, make an appointment to sit down with a representative of your insurance company. This way, you will be able to get answers about what your plan does, and does not, cover. If you will have to bear part or all of the treatment costs yourself, and have decided on a treatment option, and a treatment facility, sit down with a financial specialist from the facility. Many facilities offer reasonable and affordable payment plans. Be open and honest with yourself, and with your health care team, about what you can realistically afford. You will find that the more forthcoming you are about your situation, the more assistance your health care team will offer when it comes to working out the financial issues that accompany your chosen treatment option.

I hope that this course has proven to be beneficial to you and your support team. You are invited to carry on with your discussions in the Health Community at Suite101 http://www.suite101.com/healthcommunity/ where you will find an active discussion thread underway on Prostate Cancer.

Remember: once you are a cancer survivor, offer a hand to the guy behind you, as he likely will need it.

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