Fighting Cancer Starts with Prevention
Nearly 40% of Americans at some point in their lifetime will develop cancer. Between 30-50% of all cancer cases are preventable, which makes getting recommended screenings one of the most important health decisions you can make.
Preventing cancer through early detection, vaccines, and healthy lifestyle choices can save your life. Sadly, 25% of individuals covered under an insurance plan have not even gone to their primary care provider in more than a year, which is a big reason for an increase in the degree of cancers that are detected.
Lutheran Senior Services (LSS) health insurance covers cancer screenings at 100%, which means that you pay nothing out of pocket. So, there is no excuse to skip this important step in prevention!
Visit www.anthem.com/preventive-care/ to find out what preventive services are recommended for you and your family.
Screening tests, when done routinely, can help find cancers early. When performed routinely, screenings and preventive health measures can prevent 85% of illnesses and diseases. This means checking for cancers prior to having any symptoms. Early detection offers the best chance of survival. If you wait for symptoms, you may have waited too long.
Regular screenings may help find breast, colon, cervical, lung or other cancers early and determine what treatment is right. Read below about helpful screenings to consider.
Colonoscopies
Colonoscopies are not the only screening test available for colon cancer! For some people, there are alternative screening tests that aren’t invasive, don’t require a prep, and no sedation is needed. To find out if you are a candidate for an alternative screening method or for more information, visit www.cancer.org/content/dam/CRC/PDF/Public/8606.00.pdf.
Vaccines
Vaccines can also help lower the risk for cancer. The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine helps prevent most cervical cancers. The hepatitis B vaccine can help reduce liver cancer risk. By visiting www.anthem.com/preventive-care/, you can also use the search tool to find what vaccines are recommended based on age.
Healthy Choices
Making healthy lifestyle choices can also reduce the chance of getting cancer. This can be done by eating healthy, getting enough exercise, stopping smoking, protecting your skin from sun exposure, and engaging early in regular medical care. Learn more by visiting https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/cancer-prevention.
Screenings
Not sure where to start? Contact your Primary Care Provider to get your screenings scheduled. If you do not have a current Primary Care Provider, visit https://findcare.anthem.com/search-providers to use the Anthem Provider Search tool to get started.
Resources
Through the LSS wellness program, health insurance offerings and more, LSS continues to invest in employees’ health and wellness. For more information on these programs, contact your Human Resource Department. We also invite you to explore: