Printer FriendlyBladder Cancer
I Have Bladder
Cancer. Now What?
Any type of cancer is a major issue
when applying for life insurance. As a general rule, the longer it
has been since you had cancer, the better your rates will be since
the date of last treatment and the effectiveness of treatment are
factored in to how an individual is rated.
For more current or recent cases, life underwriters assign ratings depending on the type of cancer, the size (its
"stage"), and its level of aggressiveness (its "grade"). Most
individuals with bladder cancer will be postponed
for one year following the date of last treatment in order to ensure
that there is no immediate recurrence of the cancer.
Bladder Cancer's
Effect on Insurance Rates
The table below uses three of the
common staging/grading systems: the National Cancer Institute (NCI),
the Jewelt-Strong-Marshall (JSM), and the Tumor-Node-Metastasis
(TNM).
|
Description |
NCI |
JSM |
TNM |
Rating |
|
Cancer is only in inner lining of bladder; successful removal |
Stage 0 |
"in-situ" or 0 |
Tis |
Standard to flat extra of $5x3 |
|
Cancer has spread deeper in lining; not in muscular wall |
Stage 1 |
A |
TIN0M0 |
$7/$1000 for five years; grades 3 and 4 PP one year |
|
Cancer is in inside lining of muscular wall |
Stage 2 |
B1 |
T2N0M0 |
PP three years; then $7/$1000 for five years |
|
Cancer has spread throughout muscular wall; cancer may have spread to layers of tissue around the bladder |
Stage 3 |
B2: in deep muscle
C: in perivesical fat |
T2N0M0
T3AN0M0 |
PP five years; then $15/$1000 for five years |
|
Cancer has spread to reproductive organs and/or lymph nodes; cancer has metastasized to other parts of body |
Stage 4 |
D1: in adjacent organs and/or lymph nodes
D2: has spread beyond pelvis |
T3BN0M0
T4N1-3M0-1 |
Consideration after greater than five years |
More Information on
Bladder Cancer
Close to 56,000 new cases of bladder
cancer are diagnosed every year in the United States and over 10,000
people die from this condition in that same time period. Men are
three times more likely to be diagnosed with bladder cancer than
women, and those over the age of 50 are the most commonly diagnosed.
Smoking represents the
most serious risk factor to getting bladder cancer. There are various
industrial applications that also pose serious threats to helping
cause bladder cancer. Individuals who frequently visit the tropics
are also more susceptible to this disease as a result of their
exposure to schistosomiasis.
Usually bladder cancer is diagnosed
using urine cytology and cystography after an individual reports
problems with his or her urinary tract, which may include difficulty
urinating, or blood in the urine. Once the cancer has been detected,
it will be staged and graded based on how large the cancer is and how
far it has penetrated the bladder wall. While there are multiple
staging/grading systems, usually the lower the stage and grade the
better the prognosis, and hence, the less abnormal and aggressive the
cancerous cells are. The earlier the cancer is detected, the better
the chance of survival. Unfortunately individuals with cancer that
has extended beyond the bladder wall have less than a 50% survival
rate for living the next five years.
There are many ways to treat the bladder cancer and the best option will depend on the stage and grade of the cancer. Options include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, biological therapy, and others.
Important Things to
Know for Those with Bladder Cancer
What are some of the issues that interest underwriters?
-
When was your cancer first diagnosed?
-
What treatment has been used?
-
What is the type, stage, and grade of your cancer?
-
How far did the cancer infiltrate?
-
Has there been recurrence if treated?
-
Have you smoked recently?
What can I do to help the underwriting process?
Make sure you provide all information about the physicians, medical facilities, and so that have been involved in treating your bladder cancer. This is important to the life insurance companies so that they can obtain all medical records.
Complete the following form, or call us toll-free at 888-854-7526 if you would like to speak with someone or get more information.