Cancer is one of the most claimed illnesses on a critical illness cover. Anyone can get cancer and at any age. However, the likelihood of someone getting cancer tends increase with age. For example, in any one year only three people in every 1000 develop the disease at 40 compared with nine people in 1000 at 60. It is thought to be that as cells age they are more likely to become cancerous. Why this is, is unclear and research still continues into this.
Cancer as mentioned can effect any age. It seems that it tends to be certain cancers that effect the younger generation. Cancers that occasionally develop in children tend to be more Leukaemia (cancer of the blood) and cancer of the brain and bone. The majority of insurance companies that provide critical illness cover may also include your dependent children under your policy. The full amount of the cover is not claimable for a child as it is for yourself should you suffer a critical illness such as Cancer. However, the critical illness cover tends to pay 25% of your cover amount or £25,000 max. You are able to make up to two separate claims on different dependent children without if affecting the cover on yourself. So, if you were also to suffer a critical illness during the lifetime of your critical illness cover, you will still be able to make a claim for the full amount of cover stated in your policy.
Cancer can affect men and women almost equally. Though when it comes to a claim on a critical illness cover there tends to be higher percentage of women, compared to men, claiming for cancer. Also, different organs are more likely to be affected in each sex. For example, more women are affected by breast cancer whereas lung cancer is seen more in men.
The exact nature and causes of cancer is unknown. However, certain factors may increase your probability of getting cancer.
Cigarette smoking has now been linked to lung cancer. Cigarette smoke inhaled over a long period, for example 20 – 30 years, by a susceptible person may irritate the cells of bronchial tubes enough to cause them to turn cancerous.
Certain chemical properties that may be found in food, water or air, may irritate some body cells enough to cause them to turn cancerous. The suspected danger lies in the excessive consumption or exposure to such possible chemicals.
Over exposure to ultra violet light either from the sun or sun beds can irritate cells causing them to become cancerous. Changes in moles or warts, that are generally harmless, can be the early signs of skin cancer.
Family health can be a good indication as some inherited genes have been linked to certain cancers such as breast and bowel cancer. In some cases people at a higher risk, ie; with a family history of say breast cancer may be able to now be screened for the inherited gene to determine their susceptibility to possibly developing the said form of cancer.
