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BUA Underwriting Spotlight: The Facts about Prostate Cancer

By BUA Underwriter, Kate Roark

07-01-2010

According to the American Cancer Society, prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in American men. It’s most prevalent in men over age 65. Symptoms include weak or interrupted urinary flow, urinary frequency – particularly at night (nocturia), painful urination, difficulty having an erection, and blood in the urine or semen.

Prostate cancer can be detected before symptoms present themselves. Two important screening tools are the digital rectal exam (DRE) and a blood test called the prostate specific antigen (PSA). Prostate cancer can only be diagnosed, however, by prostate biopsy. If there is a diagnosis of cancer, the severity will be classified by stage and grade. The most common grading system is called the Gleason score. The Gleason score is the most important prognostic factor. It’s a number from two to ten with ten being most aggressive.

There are three conventional treatments for prostate cancer. Radical prostatectomy is the removal of the entire prostate. After such treatment, the PSA should be undetectable. A detectable PSA could mean a recurrence in remaining prostate cells. Radiation treatment can be delivered via external radiation beams or the implantation of radioactive seeds in or near the prostate. Because the prostate is not removed, the PSA will still be detectable, but it should be very low. The last treatment is called “watchful waiting”. This type of treatment is usually reserved for very low grade or slow growing cancers or for elderly patients who might not be a good surgical risk.

Thankfully, mortality rates associated with prostate cancer are quite low compared to other cancers. In fact, it is said that more men die with prostate cancer than of prostate cancer.

Additionally, a prostate cancer history is relatively easy to insure, provided it’s been over a year since diagnosis and the client was at least 50 when diagnosed.

SHOULD YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CALL KATE ROARK AT 330.576.1756