Cancer Types

When evaluating a cancer patient, the life insurance underwriter recognizes different cancer types, each with its own characteristics.

For example, two types of tumors exist. Non-cancerous (benign) tumors are considered harmless and don't affect other tissues. Following surgical removal, benign tumors are not an additional concern to underwriting. On the other hand, cancerous (malignant) tumors can infiltrate surrounding tissues as well as the circulation system.

Careful attention is paid to the applicant's pathology report, which summarizes the cancer cell behavior. Cancers are graded from I through IV. Grade I describes well-differentiated cancers that are the least aggressive and have the lowest tendency to spread early. Grade IV cancer types are poorly differentiated, have a high rate of aggression, and are most likely to spread early.

Another means of categorizing cancer types is by determining the stage. Staging refers to the tumor's size, the regional lymph node spread, and the degree of metastasis. For many cancers, a stage A or I diagnosis has the most favorable prognosis, while high stage cancers such as C2 or D have a much poorer prognosis.

Also, the life underwriter may assess the appropriateness of treatment, which depends on the cancer's tissue of origin and spread; its stage and grade; the age of the applicant; the patient's general health and lifestyle choices. Common types of cancer treatment include surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, hormone therapy and immunotherapy.