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Writer Ileana Bravo is an Emmy award-winning journalist, formerly a television health specialist in Miami and other NBC owned & operated stations nationwide for over 10 years. She brings a depth of knowledge and experience as a media specialist and Contributing Editor to LifeQuote.
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It is that time of year again when people in this country don pink lapel ribbons and talk about a subject that is no longer taboo—breast cancer. Talking about it might mean the difference between life and death since a woman in this country is diagnosed with breast cancer every two minutes.
Early detection of breast cancer can literally be a lifesaver. And the good news is that when breast cancer is found early, the five-year survival rate is 96%. Over 2 million breast cancer survivors are alive in America today.
The American Cancer Society estimates that 211,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed this year and 43,300 patients will die from the disease. But you don’t have to become one of those statistics by staying informed and being proactive with early detection.
Monthly breast self-exams are still the most powerful tool because we know our bodies better than anyone else. Seventy percent of all breast cancers are found this way. But since all lumps are not detectable by touch, the American Cancer Society also recommends regular mammograms.
Mammography is a low-dose X-ray examination that can detect breast cancer up to two years before it is large enough to be felt. Beginning at age 40, it is recommended that women have a mammogram every one to two years, depending on previous findings. After age 50, the advice is an annual mammogram.
But it’s important to know the signs of breast cancer since women´s breasts can develop some degree of lumpiness and only a small percentage of those lumps are malignant.
Warning Signs
- A lump is detected, which is usually single, firm, and most often painless.
- A portion of the skin on the breast or underarm swells and has an unusual appearance.
- Veins on the skin surface become more prominent on one breast.
- The breast nipple becomes inverted, develops a rash, changes in skin texture, or has a discharge other than breast milk.
- A depression is found in an area of the breast surface.
Can a Breast Cancer Survivor buy Life Insurance?
It can be a challenge but not an impossible task. Insurance companies have varying procedures and philosophies on offering life insurance policies to cancer survivors. Coverage decisions depend greatly on the size, type, and location of your tumor. A woman who had breast cancer might be able to get insurance as soon as one to three years after her treatment.
Once you have been cancer-free for a few years, there´s a good chance you can buy life insurance, although you might have to pay higher premiums. The good news is that although these extra premiums can be expensive, they will automatically disappear after a given period. Some companies require a remission period of at least ten years before considering lowering those premium rates.
That’s why shopping around among numerous insurance carriers can be a big advantage to breast cancer survivors. Policy costs can vary a great deal among companies. LifeQuote ™ can do the shopping for you for free. Once you get quotes from several life insurance companies, you might want to call a licensed LifeQuote agent to discuss your special needs.
And it’s important to be completely open about your medical history. Give the insurer the names of all of the doctors who treated you for the cancer. This will allow the medical underwriters to find the most complete records of both your and judge your case on its own merits. cancer and your treatment
If your cancer has been successfully treated; you can show that you are healthy and your treatments have gone well, several insurers may compete for your business. Surviving cancer is the first and most important step. After that, living a long and full life is the goal.
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