Many of us will experience the effects of cancer in our lifetime. Whether it’s a loved one being diagnosed or facing a diagnosis ourselves.
We hear the “c-word” a lot and the statistics seem severe;1 in 2 Canadians will develop cancer in their lifetime and 1 in 4 Canadians will die of cancer in their lifetime.1 Cancer is the number one cause of death in Canada.1
Yet it’s important to mention that survival rates for cancers across the board have improved; today, 60 percent of Canadians survive their cancer diagnoses, compared with a survival rate of about 25 percent in the 1940s.2 Not all cancers are created equally, and not all cancers offer patients the same outlook. Testicular and thyroid cancers have a survival rate of better than 90 percent,3 whereas pancreatic cancer, the third-leading cause of cancer death in Canada, has only an eight percent survival rate.4
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Daffodil month in Canada – Wear your pin with pride
To bring further light to this disease, the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) runs their Daffodil campaign during the month of April. Daffodils being one of the first flowers to bloom in spring represents rebirth and new beginnings. Since the 1950s Daffodils have been a symbol of hope for a cancer-free future.
When you donate to the CCS during Daffodil month, you’re funding ground-breaking cancer research and life-changing support programs. Learn the full history behind Daffodil month here.
Wear your Daffodil pin throughout the month of April with pride. This month is meant to bring awareness to the disease, raise funding, and give you a chance to plan for the future. Discover more about the disease and consider your options for life insurance to financially protect your family if cancer was to affect your life.
What can cause cancer?
The best way to reduce your risk of cancer is to learn more about what causes it in the first place. The most common risk factors for cancer include:
- Tobacco
- Sun exposure
- Radiation exposure
- Chemicals
- Some viruses and bacteria
- Family history of cancer
- Alcohol
- Poor diet
- Lack of physical activity
- Obesity
How to prevent cancer
Some risk factors for cancer such as family history and ageing make cancer prevention more difficult since they are beyond our control. However, you can make simple lifestyle changes to combat many of the other risk factors.
You can be proactive by eating a healthier diet that includes a lot of fresh vegetables and fruits as well as getting the recommended daily physical activity. Since being overweight puts you at risk of cancer, it’s important to maintain a healthy weight based on your frame and height.
Avoiding alcohol and tobacco are other effective ways to reduce your risk of getting cancer. In Canada, it’s estimated that smoking causes 30% of all cancer deaths.5
The earlier the better – diagnosis/detection
The best chance to cure the disease is for it to be detected and diagnosed early. When cancer is discovered in earlier stages, doctors can determine a plan and provide treatment quickly.
Being mindful of your body and knowing what’s normal are key to identifying when something “feels off.” Don’t ignore this feeling, bring it to the attention of your doctor immediately. Regular check-ups with your doctor can help you monitor your health through-out your lifetime.
Screenings are essential for detecting certain kinds of cancer early. For breast cancer, women should get mammograms starting at the age of 40. It’s also important to get in the habit of doing self-exams at home.
Colorectal cancer is another type that early screenings would be beneficial. It’s recommended that people start getting screened for colorectal cancer at age 50.
However, if you have strong family history for either of these types of cancer, your doctor may recommend that you get more frequent screenings or different kinds such as genetic screenings.
If a diagnosis happens, how can cancer be treated?
If you have already been diagnosed, there are various treatment options depending on the type of cancer and stage of the disease:
Surgery – when cancer is discovered early enough and it is isolated in one spot in the body, it can be surgically removed.
Radiation – radiation therapy kills cancer cells by damaging the DNA in the cells, so that they can’t reproduce or by creating charged particles called free radicals that also damage the DNA in the cell. This highly targeted treatment only attacks the cancerous cells, not healthy cells.
Chemotherapy – uses drugs to kill all the cancer cells in the body. The negative aspect is that chemotherapy will also kill healthy cells in the process, which is why patients often feel sick and weak when getting this treatment.
By supporting the CCS you’re funding research for advanced treatment technologies for cancer patients. These new technologies include gene editing, cancer vaccines, and more.
What life insurance providers are thinking
If you’re not sure if you’ll qualify, here are some of the factors that insurance providers take into consideration:
Type of cancer
Every cancer is different, and some types are considered more life threatening than others. As a result, life insurance providers will want to know what type of Cancer you have.
Stage of cancer
Since early detection gives cancer patients a better chance of beating the disease, insurance providers will want to know what stage your cancer is in.
Cured or in remission
Insurance providers will want to know if your cancer is cured or in remission, and for how long. If it is in remission it means it the disease has stopped growing in your body and if it is cured, it means you’re completely cancer free.
Family history
They will also likely want to know if you have a family history of cancer. This can be an indicator of your likelihood of getting the disease, the type of cancer you may get, and the severity.
So, when should you get life insurance?
If you have a family history of cancer, are a current cancer patient or a survivor of the disease, it may affect your life insurance eligibility:
Before a cancer diagnosis
Nobody likes to think about getting a cancer diagnosis, especially when you are young and healthy. Even if there is a family history this should not be a deterrent in thinking you may be turned down for coverage. There are providers which you could apply for life insurance protection. The earlier you apply the easier it will be to get qualified and the lower your premiums will be.
After a cancer diagnosis
Cancer patients can get both traditional term and whole life insurance. Most insurance providers will ask several questions and ask you to complete a medical exam. However, there will be some cases, depending on health condition, where cancer patients may be declined coverage by the provider.
The good news is that there are insurance providers that offer no medical life insurance options which means there are no medical exams or medical tests (no needles or fluid) and you can still get coverage.
Cancer survivors
If you can show a history of recovery you may be able to qualify for life insurance. Depending on the insurance provider they may want you to wait between 1-10 years after your last treatment before they will qualify you for life insurance.
Being diagnosed or living with cancer should not exclude you from getting life insurance. No Medical life insurance is an option for the hard to insure and may include cancer coverage.
Is life insurance right for you?
There has been a lot of progress made when it comes to finding new ways to detect and treat cancer. The CCS and their Daffodil month campaign continue to make advances to combat and draw further attention to this life altering disease.
Facing a diagnosis can turn your world upside down. Ensure your loved ones are financially protected by purchasing life insurance.
Speak with your advisor or contact Canada Protection Plan for a no-obligation life insurance quote
SOURCES:
- 1 https://www.cancer.ca/~/media/cancer.ca/CW/cancer%20information/cancer%20101/Canadian%20cancer%20statistics/Canadian-Cancer-Statistics-2019-EN.pdf?la=en
- 2 https://globalnews.ca/news/3539740/nearly-1-in-2-canadians-are-expected-to-get-cancer-heres-why/
- 3 https://www.cancer.ca/en/cancer-information/cancer-type/thyroid/prognosis-and-survival/survival-statistics/?region=on
- 4 https://www.cancer.ca/en/cancer-information/cancer-type/pancreatic/prognosis-and-survival/survival-statistics/?region=on
- 5 https://www.cancer.ca/en/prevention-and-screening/reduce-cancer-risk/make-healthy-choices/live-smoke-free/?region=on
