It is important to fully understand your choice of facilities and health care providers when selecting a health plan. Those who advise you to seek second opinions, find another doctor, go to a major cancer center, etc., may believe that they are providing sound advice. However, you may face barriers to accessing this type of care based on your insurance coverage. If you think that you might want to get an opinion or treatment at a major cancer center and/or specialist out of your area (if you are diagnosed), make sure that you fully understand your “out of network” benefits. If you don’t, contact your health plan or your employer’s benefits administrator.

Hardly a day goes by without a news story heralding some breakthrough or major finding about cancer. One headline tells us certain foods may increase our risk for cancer, while another study and story may dispute that evidence. Our knowledge of cancer risks is constantly changing and may be more or less significant than current literature would suggest. Scientific knowledge about what puts us at risk for cancer evolves constantly. Keeping up with this kind of news helps you remain an “active” rather than a “passive” consumer. Never hesitate to raise questions with your health care professionals about your risk for cancer based on current evidence.

We all look forward to the day when we will know for certain what causes cancer. Two very difficult cancers are largely, though not always, caused by lifestyle choices – lung cancer and skin cancer. You can lessen your risk of developing these cancers by not smoking or using tobacco products and by limiting sun exposure. Guidelines regarding screening for the most common cancers are constantly evolving. Check with your physician to determine how the most current evidence regarding screening for breast, prostate, lung and colorectal cancer may apply to you.

If you have a family history of cancer, ask your physician what role genetics or other risk factors may apply to your particular health profile. Understanding “relative risk” versus “actual risk” marks an important distinction when dealing with genetic or heritable risk factors for cancer.

See your physician with any unusual symptoms that do not clear up in two weeks. If you are unsatisfied or instinctively sense that something is wrong, seek another opinion.