Have you recently been diagnosed with prostate cancer? Or are you recovering from a prostatectomy?
A lot of men believe that obtaining life insurance coverage is impossible after being diagnosed with prostate cancer. The reality is that you can get affordable life insurance if you work with an agent who can favorably evaluate your risk profile and connect you with the right insurance companies.
Here’s what you need to know about purchasing life insurance after a radical prostatectomy.
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What is a Radical Prostatectomy?
A radical prostatectomy is a medical procedure designed to treat prostate cancer, and prevent it from spreading to other areas of the body. It’s widely considered one of the most effective ways to treat early stage prostate cancer, and is designed to remove all traces of prostate cancer before it spreads to other parts of the body. .
A doctor removes the man’s prostate and the surrounding tissue. A surgeon may also remove the lymph nodes in the affected area, to test them for any signs of cancer. This is either done through open surgery or laparoscopic surgery.
Open surgery is done through either a retropubic approach or a perineal approach. Retropubic surgery involves making an incision from the lower stomach to the pubic bone. The incision in perineal surgery takes place between the anus and the penis. The incision done during this approach is often smaller, and takes place with less recovery time.
Laparoscopic surgery involves several small cuts in the stomach, and the use of a laparoscope, a small thin tube with a camera attached. Laparoscopic surgery also frequently employs the use of robotic arms, which mimic the surgeon’s movements more precisely and in finer detail.
The goal of each surgery is to remove all traces of cancer. Sometimes this also includes removing a small set of nerves attached to the penis that affect a man’s ability to have an erection. There are techniques to avoid the removal of these nerves. These techniques involve carefully cutting around the nerves, and are best executed laparoscopically.
Recovery After Prostate Surgery
Radical prostatectomy is an invasive surgery, and all invasive surgeries have side effects and require careful adherence to recovery schedules. You may have to stay in the hospital for up to 4 days following surgery.
The side effects of a radical prostatectomy can sometimes include: erectile problems, incontinence, and damage to the urethra or the rectum. Fortunately, the chances of having these side effects for life are less likely with a skilled surgeon.
A catheter will be inserted into your bladder to drain your urine. Typically, catheters will be left in from one to three weeks following surgery. Because the surgeon has to cut the urethra to remove the prostate, many men experience urinary incontinence after surgery, even once the catheter is removed. The more skilled a surgeon is in reattaching the urethra to the bladder, the likelihood of urinary incontinence lowers dramatically.
As with most major surgeries, blood clots, blood loss, allergies to the anesthesia, heart issues and infection are all risks and complications to be considered before undergoing surgery.
After surgery, follow up care is necessary to ensure that your cancer does not return. Your post-surgery program will include monitoring prostate specific antigen levels through PSA tests and undergoing digital rectal exams (DRE) to check for abnormalities. Your physician may recommend physical therapy or further biopsies to examine tissue irregularities.
← Complete the Life Insurance Quote Form to Begin.
May the Best Quote Win!
How Can I Get Affordable Life Insurance After a Prostatectomy?
Just like always, your ability to purchase life insurance will depend on your age, habits (smoking, drinking, dangerous activities), and overall health and fitness. But now insurance companies also have to consider the risks associated with prostate cancer to decide whether or not they can underwrite your coverage.
The good news is that many large insurance companies have started to realize that providing insurance to prostate cancer survivors is good business. I have developed and maintained close relationship with these companies, and are able to find you the policy that best suits your needs.
How Risky is Prostate Cancer, Really?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, prostate cancer is the most widely diagnosed cancer in men in the United States. In fact, you’re 70% more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer than lung cancer, the next most common in men.
With that many men being diagnosed, you’d think prostate cancer would be responsible for more deaths. However, lung cancer actually causes almost 3 times more deaths than prostate cancer each year.
That means that even though prostate cancer is more common, it is far less likely to cause death than lung cancer. That’s obviously good news for you, but especially good news when you’re shopping for life insurance.
If detected early, prostate cancer doesn’t have to result in higher insurance premiums or coverage declines. This information is crucial to anyone trying to obtain life insurance: staying on top of health issues and proactively treating them causes underwriters to see you as less of a risk and makes it easier for you to maintain affordable coverage.
What Information Will My Agent Need?
Your insurance underwriter will need to know a lot about your medical history and current health before you’ll get coverage. Here’s the most important items you’ll need to provide, so have them ready when you talk to me.
How Advanced Was Your Prostate Cancer?
There are many options available after you’ve completed treatment if you had Stage I and Stage II prostate cancer. A waiting period after treatment will often be required if you had Stage III prostate cancer.
Have You Had A PSA Test Recently?
Your underwriter will want to review your medical history to determine the likelihood that cancer has spread or will return.
Supplying regular PSA tests after your prostatectomy is one way to convince underwriters to assign you a lower risk profile. Meaning you’ll be more likely to get approved for an affordable life insurance policy.
Still have questions?
Give me a call (844) LIFE-844 and I’ll walk you through your options. I look forward to working with you!