Care and recovery
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Use your Dow resources to help navigate diagnosis and treatment, receive quality care and improve your life and overall outcomes.
A cancer diagnosis can affect all aspects of your life. Dow’s tools and resources can help.
Understand cancer diagnosis and care
Cancer can show up in many different ways, with symptoms varying widely depending on the type, location and stage. The good news is many cancers are treatable, especially when caught early. So, if you notice anything unusual happening in your body, don't hesitate to get it checked out. It could make all the difference.
Diagnosis
Your doctor may use a variety of methods to diagnose cancer, including:
- Medical history: Your doctor may ask detailed questions about your symptoms (e.g., when they started, how often they occur, severity, factors that trigger or worsen them), as well as considering if others in your family have had cancer.
- Physical exams: Depending on the type of cancer, this may include examining the skin for unusual moles or growths, checking your eyes for signs of jaundice (yellowing), looking for sores in your mouth and throat, feeling for swollen lymph nodes, checking for swelling, lumps, masses or enlarged organs, listening for abnormal breathing and checking for heart irregularities.
- Laboratory tests: Your doctor may recommend blood, urine, stool and other tests tests to detect abnormalities.
- Imaging tests: Your doctor may suggest tests to see what's going on inside your body, such as CT scans, MRIs, a colonoscopy, bone scans, ultrasounds and X-rays.
- Biopsy: You doctor may collect small tissue samples from an area of concern, which is examined under a microscope to identify potential abnormalities.
Treatment
Knowing the type of cancer — and how advanced it is — can help you make informed decisions about your treatment. There are many types of cancer treatments, such as the use of surgery, radiation, medications and other therapies to cure or shrink a cancer or to stop the progression of a cancer. The type of cancer care treatments and therapies will depend on the specific type of cancer being treated — and depending on your situation, you may receive one treatment or a combination of treatments.
There are also some common terms you may encounter during your or your loved one’s treatment.
Facing a cancer diagnosis can be difficult. The first step is to learn more about the cancer diagnosis to help you make informed decisions. Some questions you’ll want to ask may include:
- What kind of cancer do I have?
- What stage is the cancer?
- Has it spread?
- What other tests or procedures do I need?
- What are my treatment options?
- What can I expect during treatment?
- What are the side effects of the treatment?
- What can I do to prevent my cancer from coming back?
- How likely are my children or other family members to get cancer?
- What happens if I don't get treatment?
Receive personalized cancer care
Medical coverage
When you enroll in a Dow medical plan, you have access to comprehensive medical coverage with an out-of-pocket maximum that protects you from significant medical expenses, as well as best-in-class resources so you can feel confident in your treatment plan. Based on your medical plan selection, available resources may include specific nurse support, 24/7 nurse lines, telehealth services and more.
Your medical plan may also provide coverage for wigs/toupees, reconstructive surgery and other cancer-related needs. Contact your medical plan carrier using the number on the back of your ID card for details.
Prescription drug coverage
Prescription medications, including specialty drugs, can be an important part of cancer treatment. Your prescription drug coverage may include oral, self-injectable and select prescriber-administered cancer drugs, as well as medications to manage nausea and white blood cell modifiers.
If you’re enrolled in an Aetna medical plan, you have access to prescription drug coverage through CVS. If you’re enrolled in one of the HMO plans, your prescription drug coverage is provided through the HMO. Call the number on the back of your ID card to learn more.
Special medical plan resources for cancer care
Dow medical plans offer additional resources specifically for cancer including:
- Aetna's Cancer Support Center: A free digital information hub designed around your needs. It provides details about diagnostic tests, treatments and benefits, as well as self-service support for a number of cancers. Log into aetna.com and access the Cancer Support Center from the home page.
- Aetna's Transform Oncology Care: Established by CVS Health and Aetna, the program simplifies the treatment process to allow providers to deliver high-quality care that supports patients throughout their treatment journey, including prevention and screening, diagnosis, treatment, survivorship and supportive care.
- Aetna's Help and Healing Guide: Cancer resources and support for you.
- Cigna's Comprehensive Oncology Program: Provides a variety of services to help you manage all aspects of your cancer care, including online cancer prevention materials, access to the Cancer Support program webpage, guidance on choosing the best cancer and hospice networks and coaching from oncology nurses to ensure you’re getting the best care.
- Cigna's Dedicated Oncology Nurse Case Manager: Offers access to a dedicated oncology nurse case manager to help guide you through your journey, offer resources and provide education to help you achieve your personalized health goals.
Nurture your mental and emotional health
It’s natural to focus on the physical side effects of cancer and cancer treatment. However, it’s important to remember that cancer can have significant impacts on your emotional health. You have access to a wide range of benefits and resources through Dow to help you care for your emotional health alongside your physical health.
Find what you need, whether you’re looking for a boost, would like personal support or need immediate help, in the Dow mental health guide.
Did you know?
The Dow Family Health Centers offer convenient, affordable health care — including mental health care. Also, you have access to additional mental health virtual care options if you’re enrolled in an Aetna medical plan.
Grief counseling
You have access to grief counseling services through company and employee-paid optional life insurance and managed by TELUS Health. Receive up to five counseling sessions per event to help deal with any type of loss, all at no cost to you. Call (888) 319-7819 or visit the grief counseling website (username: metlifeassist | password: support).