Staying healthy will lower your risk of developing certain types of cancer and may improve your chances of surviving cancer if it develops later. This includes getting your routine checkups and future cancer screenings. Your doctor is the best person to provide advice to help you stay healthy. Below are some additional tips and resources to lower your chances of getting some of the most common cancers, such as breast, cervical, colon and lung.
Stay current on your cancer screenings. Talk to your doctor to learn what cancer screenings you may need and how often.
Keep a healthy weight to help you stay well now and as you age.
Eat a healthy diet with lots of vegetables, fruits and whole grains.
Get regular physical activity. Most people need at least 150 minutes of moderate activity per week.
Protect yourself from known cancer-causing chemicals by wearing protective equipment like gloves or masks when needed.
Avoid drinking alcohol. Drinking alcohol can increase your chances of getting cancer.
Quit smoking and avoid secondhand smoke. Smoking can cause cancer and block your body from fighting it.
Use a condom during sex to help protect you from HPV infections, which can increase your risk for cervical cancer.
Get the HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccines. Talk with your doctor to learn if the HPV vaccines can help prevent cervical cancer.
Cancer screenings can only tell your doctor if something unusual (abnormal) is happening in your body. Your doctor may recommend more testing to help them determine if you have cancer and to figure out the next step for your care. These tests may include:
The results from lab tests, imaging and biopsies may be posted on your health portal before your doctor can discuss them with you. It is normal to feel anxious and want to know your results right away and what they mean. Your doctor is the best person to explain all your test results and what they mean for you.
Learning that you have cancer can be hard. You may feel anxious and afraid and have many questions. The steps below can help you get the information and resources you need to cope with your diagnosis. Please keep in mind this information is not meant to replace the advice of your doctor or health care team. Talking with them is the best way to learn more about your health status, treatment options and what’s next.
Understanding your diagnosis can help you make decisions about your care. To start, you can:
Here are some ways to support your health and well-being when you have cancer:
The best time to plan for changes your body may go through is before you start cancer treatment. Talk with your doctor to learn what physical changes you may experience. For support to minimize the visible side effects of cancer, reach out to Cancer Kinship at info@cancerkinship.org for more information about the Kinner Beauty Salon.
Knowing your insurance information and financial options is important to your care and treatment. CalOptima Health members can learn more about covered benefits below:
See a summary of Medi-Cal benefits online at www.caloptima.org/Health-Insurance-Plans/Medi-Cal/Benefits-and-Services
Contact CalOptima Health Medi-Cal Customer Service toll-free at 1-888-587-8088 (TTY 711), Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. We have staff who speak your language.
See a summary of OneCare (HMO D-SNP), a Medicare Medi-Cal Plan, benefits online at www.caloptima.org/Health-Insurance-Plans/OneCare/Benefits-and-Services
Contact OneCare Customer Service toll-free at 1-877-412-2734 (TTY 711), 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We have staff who speak your language.
For more support, please call the Health and Wellness team at CalOptima Health at 1-888-587-8088 (TTY 711). We are here to help you Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. We have staff who speak your language.