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Got bad news about my Bladder Cancer/Prostate Cancer past

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Posted 5/4/2012 11:19 AM (GMT 0)

In the fall of 2008 I was diagnosed with Stage II BC. Went through MVAC chemo and in Feb 2009 had my RC (Radical Cysectomey or removal of the bladder and prostate).

A week later while still in the hospital, the doctor mentioned they found during pathology I had a bad type of Prostate Cancer and I was lucky that it was removed with the prostate as that type of PC was deadly.

Then that was it. No other statement was ever mentioned about the PC. Changed doctors because of other issues and complications.

Last April, 2011, I go into my Ocologist office and we decide no further tests are needed for BC, Cancer Free!! turn K..

Pretty happy here tongue   I even apply for life insurance for my business this spring as several Insurance companies said they would consider my status with BC.

Well, it all got denied confused . even though the BC was not an issue.. it was because of the Prostate issue.. Per the insurance companies, I am for life, never again to qualifiy for Life insurance.. The pathology labeled me a Gleason score 7 (3+4) and staged a T2c.

I went back to the Oncologist and he wanted to know how my PSA tests look at the Urolgists.. I said what PSA? smhair . no one ever told me to have a yearly PSA test (I changed doctors and the new one was never told that I had PC)

Now I have to have a yearly PSA for life mad   as he told me PC could come up undetected 30 years later. It will lay there an then show its self many years later.. Even though I do not have a prostate or bladder.. it is possible that something got out into my system. The will never know.. The Oncologist agreed with the insurance companies and said most likely, I will never qualify for insurance for the rest of my life..

I was/am floored as I really thought the cancer thing was in my past.. now, not BC but PC is going to be the cancer that will haunt me for the rest of my life..

I never tested positive for PC even up until the RC surgery..

Just want to vent and inform you guys about your BC and PC status..

NEO

Posted 5/4/2012 11:50 AM (GMT 0)
I had life insurance before getting cancer so am good for another 9 years with that plan. I can get a longer plan now one year out of treatment. I checked and already have quotes. Also, via work I found out that AFLAC would accept me after 5 years of no cancer.
Posted 5/4/2012 12:21 PM (GMT 0)
Follow up question: I have had the same Life Insurance policy for 10 years. term Life, pay every year. They have never asked any medical questions since first applying. Can they drop me or worse deny claims (if G-d forbid it comes to that), based on my cancer(s), even though they were dx'ed and treated since I have been a policy holder?

Thanks
Posted 5/4/2012 12:31 PM (GMT 0)
according to my rep they cannot.

Furthermore, I was surprised that I cold extend my plan, albeit at quit a high cost without having to disclose my experience with cancer.

AFLAC - The AFLAC rep told our HR that I would have to be cancer free for 5 years to qualify for their supplemental life insurance.
Posted 5/4/2012 12:49 PM (GMT 0)
I luckily had a 10 year policy that I got when I was 54. I cannot be dropped during the 10 year term unless I don't make a payment. As you can imagine, the bill gets paid as soon as it comes in the door. I don't expect to ever get coverage again, but I'll be 65 away when it lapses.
Posted 5/4/2012 12:52 PM (GMT 0)
You guys are in a much tougher spot being in your 40's. How about disability coverage? Same problem?
Posted 5/4/2012 1:07 PM (GMT 0)

BB_Fan said...
You guys are in a much tougher spot being in your 40's. How about disability coverage? Same problem?

I have disability through work. Never used it, never will probably.

Yeah, the insurance is a pain in the ass. When I set up my 15 year plan at 35 I was thinking along the lines of possible car accidents driving into work every day, not cancer. So now my plan expires the same exact year of my 10 year cancer anniversary which of course is the cut off for the MSK prediction tool also.

I can upgrade now and set up a plan until i'm 65 which also functions as a pension plan but the quotes I got for that are pretty steep. Will probably do it anyway to protect the kids.
Posted 5/4/2012 2:30 PM (GMT 0)
The life insurance polcy I have now runs out in three years when I turn 55 so last april I applied for new Life insurance with "select Quote" and YADA YADA nine months later I have no prostate.
Posted 5/4/2012 2:49 PM (GMT 0)
I guess I dodged the bullet when it comes to life insurance and PC. I just renewed my 10 yr term life on both me and the wife in Jan 2011. The insurance company's test showed my PSA was 2.7. I usually do a full blood work that is ordered up by my GP at about the same time. I took the test results in from the insurance company to my GP and asked if he would wait based upon the insurance company's test and he was fine with that. I wanted to change my test time to the summer when the winter flu season was over, mid summer. So in July 2011, I got another full blood work up done and my PSA jumped to 4.7 which started my journey. So I was lucky to have a passing PSA for my life insurance blood work and still caught my big PSA jump just six months later. When my insurance term ends, I'll be 79 and will probably not renew. I already have a pension and the house paid for. I just need to get my rentals paid for and that could easily happen if the US economy recovers at all.
Posted 5/4/2012 5:59 PM (GMT 0)
I don't have life insurance (I do at work, but when I retire I won't have it). I do have LTC. I got that almost 10 years ago and the premium has been the same.

Recent articles indicate it might go up sharply. But they do not ask any medical questions (since I applied).

Mel

Posted 5/4/2012 6:31 PM (GMT 0)

davidg said...
I had life insurance before getting cancer so am good for another 9 years with that plan. I can get a longer plan now one year out of treatment. I checked and already have quotes. Also, via work I found out that AFLAC would accept me after 5 years of no cancer.

 

I was told 5 years in remission from Stae Farm too.  I don't think many insurance companies will take a risk on any cancer patient that has not been in remission for awhile....and if they do it will probably cost through the roof.

Posted 5/4/2012 6:53 PM (GMT 0)
Neoman, getting back to your post and away from the insurance issue, sorry that you got such crappy treatment while dealing with the BC. Look at the PSA tests as preventative, and nothing that is diagnostic, for now. You may go the rest of a long and healthy life without anything happening, or you may start seeing PSA rises. Time will tell, so enjoy each day for what it is, and don't worry about the future possibilities until they happen. I know, easy to say and harder to do....Good luck.
Posted 5/4/2012 7:04 PM (GMT 0)
I was very lucky my wife took out an AFLAC cancer insurance policy 5 years and it can not be cancelled or go up for life. It paid out almost $7000 cash to me last year after I was diagnosed and had surgery for my PC. This way more than covered my out of pocket expenses for my PC, so the wife and I used it for a cruise last fall.  This policy will continue to pay $40 in cash every year for my PSA tests and will cover any radiation treatment co pays should I ever need that.

I was pretty much screwed on life insurance back in 2000 when my term insurance expired and when I went to renew I had to get a new physical and my hypertension and cholesterol numbers killed that, even though both are controlled by meds now. The PC sealed the deal for me ever getting more life insurance. nono

Terry

Posted 5/4/2012 11:01 PM (GMT 0)
Where did all this insurance talk come from????

I am sorry to hear about your double cancer situation. Glad for now, your BC has been handled. On the PC side, you definitely need to have regular PSA tests, to make sure that the beast is being kept in check. It is possible, despite the removal of your prostate, that some cancer spread and could be making a home elsewhere in your body.

With the removal of your bladder, did you end up with an Urostomy like me, or did they make you one of those neo-bladders? I ended up with an urostomy because when I had salvage radiation for my prostate cancer, it was done wrong, and my bladder and bladder neck got totally fried, making it impossible for me to urinate in the normal manner. I have been with a stoma now for 1 1/2 years plus, and still adapting to that lifestyle.

I wish you the best, hope the worse of your troubles are behind you.

David in SC
Posted 5/4/2012 11:27 PM (GMT 0)
It was because of the insurance issue I found out that I should have been paying attention to the PC, not the BC.. The prostate cancer was almost a side issue when I was in the hospital. In fact nobody ever really talked about it.. but in reality it is the Ape in the room.. Even though I have no bladder or prostate, I must have a PSA done every year. No one ever told me that..

The Prostate Cancer issue was never a major conversation with the doctors..But in reality it is a HUGE (hopefully not in the long run) issue to watch in the years to come..

Good comments guys. I do have 4 life insurance policies.. but they are all tied up in my business. I would have liked another one for my family.. Some of them are going to drop off in a few years...

My health insurance is also a future issue.. on Cobra now for one more year.. Then I may get a group policy or go to the VA..who knows..??

I have a Neo Bladder hence my name NEOMAN.... get it Purgatory!! smilewinkgrin

neo

Posted 5/5/2012 12:00 AM (GMT 0)
neoman,

i often don't see the obvious, but now that i look at your "handle", yeah, i get it, lol. does your "new" bladder work basically the same way as your original equiptment. i wasn't a candidate for that at the time, but have read of others with them with great results, only complaint i have read - is some say the neobladder doesn't hold anywhere as much as the natural bladder. you would know if that is true or not.

biggest advantage of the urostomy, no such thing as urgency, in reality, no sensation of urinating at all, since the conduit portion has no nerves in it, so there is nothing to feel per say. when i stand up, if the bag is full, then i can feel the weight of it. and if its hot out, then the added temperture of walking around with the urine in a bag, adds to the heat. of course, there is no getting up at night, because i always hook up a large catheter night bag to the drain tap on the device. but i was never one for getting up at night to pee even before my pc days.

according to my onclogist, i am at extreme risk for bladder cancer, so they are trying to arrange a virtual bladder check, since there is neither an entrance or exit to my natural bladder, so no way to go up and scope the bladder in a conventional manne.

i wish you very well

david
Posted 5/5/2012 1:41 AM (GMT 0)
My life insurance expired the day before I was notified I had prostate cancer. I was supposed to be notified earlier, but there was an office screwup and the notification was delayed a week. I could have gone for the uber-expensive no questions asked renewal (from $70 a month to $500) but I figured with a 2.1 PSA, what were the chances...and that offer expired the day before I found out. On the bright side, so far I'm ahead almost $15k in insurance premiums!
Posted 5/5/2012 3:10 AM (GMT 0)
Neoman, glad that you are OK with the insurance comments. They were are intented to be helpful. Dave is right. He doesn't always see the obvious.
Posted 5/5/2012 11:53 AM (GMT 0)
With a Neo-bladder, I wear a Timex watch and set it for 4 hours day and night.. When the timer goes off, I eather get out of bed or start to find a bathroom.. I go of course before 4 hours or longer that 4 hours depending on how much fluid I have taken in.

I have no sense of urgency, but do sense a fullness in my abodmum or pressure on my AUS cuff. Leakage also warns me to void my neo bladder.

No one would ever know that I do not have a bladder, even in a mens shower. Except for 5 scars that would scare most people, I look fairly normal.

I posted the insurance issue because I was so naive about PC. Just wanted to see who else was affected.. A lot of men for sure!!

NEO

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