There is a great deal of fear surrounding cancer, and for good reason. Cancer is one of leading causes of death in America today. Fortunately, there are effective treatments for most cancers today. But they do entail a great deal of cost.
A lot of the fear is also based on misinformation—or a lack of information about cancer. Many people fear it without actually knowing what cancer really is. So here is some cancer information every individual should know.
What is Cancer?
We often hear cancer affecting the bone, skin and breast. However, cancer has been detected in almost all organs and parts of the body, including the eyes and the heart. The causes, symptoms, and methods of treatment vary depending on the part of the body affected by cancer.
Cancers and Tumors
Cancer is represented by uncontrolled growth of cells that can affect other nearby and distant cells. The human body is made up of cells that divide and multiply depending on the need of the body parts. But if these cells continue to increase in number even if the body does not need them anymore, the mass of cells becomes a tumor, which can either be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous).
Malignant tumors often spread the cancer cells into other body parts, even the distant one. This can happen when the cancerous cells enter to the bloodstream and travel to other parts of the body.
Common Symptoms of Cancer
There are specific symptoms of cancer for every organ affected. The earlier that a person recognizes a symptom and gets help, the better their chances of treating that cancer. Common warning signs include a lump on the breast or testicle; increase in size of a mole or a wart; long-lasting sore throat; chronic fatigue; abnormal bleeding and vaginal discharge; coughing blood; and regular indigestion.
Cancer Treatments
When an oncologist (a cancer specialist) determines that a patient has cancer, that physician will then evaluate what would be the best treatment for that patient’s specific situation.
The four standard treatments of cancer are surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and immunotherapy. The oncologist will often give recommendations. However, it is still the patient who must decide which path to undergo based on the recommendations of the doctor. It’s not a bad idea to always get a second opinion as well from other respected oncologists.
Prevention is Better than Cure
Studies have shown that certain actions and life choices have an impact on the development and treatment of cancer. Come cancers have a direct relationship to what we do and eat, such as smoking and lung cancer. In that same vein, prevention has actually proven to be the best cure for this and many other diseases.
It’s important to understand, however, that cancer is often hereditary. It can strike a person regardless of how they live and the preventive steps they take. In such cases, the only real solution to fight it is to undergo the best treatment.
Unfortunately, cancer treatment can cost a great deal of money, even if you have insurance.
Worrying about your finances could just lead you to anxiety. Fortunately, for many consumers, critical illness insurance is available to help ease their financial worries.
This insurance will pay you lump sum benefit once you are diagnosed with a critical illness like cancer.
The good news is that you’re not alone. At Critical Illness Policies, we can help you explore your best options and tailor a plan to meet your needs. Call us now at 561-210-58252 and speak to our experienced and helpful agents to get the answers you deserve.