Breast Cancer Care Program
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The BCBSGa Breast Cancer Care Program is designed to improve the care and treatment of persons with breast cancer through informed decision making and meaningful discussions between the patient and the health care team. Physician and Layperson Advisory Panels helped us develop the program, and we are now able to offer you and your breast cancer patients these support and educational materials.
We encourage patients to always talk with their own doctor before beginning any new plan of treatment or if questions arise as they do their research.
Choosing the breast cancer treatment that is best for an individual patient is an important discussion between the patient and her physician. We want breast cancer patients to be fully informed about their personal treatment options, to help them discuss it with you. To promote and help you participate in shared decision making with your patients, the following materials may be helpful.
 | Offers support and additional helpful resources to breast cancer patients and their caregivers |
| Contains information on many topics related to breast cancer |
| Suggests questions to ask the doctors at each stage of treatment |
| Contains information on diagnosis staging and the related treatment decisions or options |
| The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) believes that the management of the cancer patient can be enhanced in a clinical trial. Participation in clinical trials is especially encouraged. The Georgia Clinical Trials Agreement provides for insurance coverage for certain services related to cancer for those Georgians covered by the health insurance policies. |
We understand that the fight against cancer can be difficult. Remember, BCBSGa members can call our 24-hour nurse call line, BlueChoice On-Call at (888) 724-BLUE [724-2583] if they have questions or need assistance.
1. Resource List - offers support and additional helpful resources to breast cancer patients and their caregivers.
Your patient, their family or other members of their support team may experience symptoms of stress when they are diagnosed with cancer. This can interfere with their ability to cope, so you might wish to direct them to seek additional support.
To see the Resource List click here.
2. Patient Education Booklet – contains information on many topics related to breast cancer.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia has prepared this booklet to assist patients with breast cancer understand and cope with their disease. Included is a collection of materials that explain:
|  | Some key points to remember when battling breast cancer. |
| | A patient’s rights and how to take control. |
| | Treatment options. The treatment a patient selects is a serious decision. Patients should thoroughly understand their options and discuss it with their doctor. |
| | Special populations and how cancer can affect people differently. |
| | The basic anatomy of the breast and breast cancer. |
To see the Patient Education Booklet click here.
3. Patient Checklist – suggests questions to ask the doctors at each stage of treatment. Regular communication between a patient and her doctor is important in making informed decisions about health care. Getting answers to these questions should help your patient make treatment decisions that they are comfortable with. Questions are grouped for each stage of treatment.
| | Diagnosing breast cancer |
| | Before treatment begins |
| | Before having radiation therapy |
| | Before having systemic therapy (chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, or biological therapy) |
| | Recovery and long-term follow-up |
To see the Patient Checklist click here.
4. General Treatment Guidelines for Breast Cancer – provides information on diagnosis staging of breast cancer and the related treatment decisions or options. This quick reference tool is designed for physicians who are not oncology specialists, to discuss breast cancer treatment options with their patient in general terms.
The patient should have a team to treat breast cancer, including:
| | Breast surgeon or general surgeon |
| | Medical oncologist |
| | Radiation oncologist |
| | Reconstructive plastic surgeon |
| | Others as appropriate |
Appropriate treatments method may include:
| | Surgery |
| | Radiation oncology |
| | Medical oncology(chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, or biological therapy) |
To view the General Treatment Guidelines for Breast Cancer click here
5. Clinical Trials - The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) believes that the management of the cancer patient can be enhanced in a clinical trial. Participation in clinical trials is especially encouraged.
Georgia Clinical Trials Agreement with The Georgia Cancer Coalition ("GCC"), a Georgia nonprofit corporation
| The Georgia Cancer Coalition ("GCC"), a Georgia nonprofit corporation, has been formed to act as a catalyst and conduit for best practices in cancer screening, research, and treatment throughout the State of Georgia. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia, in collaboration with GCC has a similar compelling interest in assisting the GCC to improve the methods of cancer detection, treatment, and prevention. |
| Purpose of this Agreement |
| The intent and purpose of this Agreement is to provide for insurance coverage for certain services related to cancer for those Georgians covered by the health insurance policies issued by the undersigned insurers. Such coverage will promote the health and welfare of the people of Georgia. There are two general areas covered pursuant to this Agreement: (1) coverage of the routine patient care costs for persons participating in cancer clinical trials within Georgia; and (2) coverage of screening tests as described in section 2.0 of this agreement. |
To see the Georgia Clinical Trials Agreement with The Georgia Cancer Coalition click here | 
