The thought of being diagnosed with a dread disease is scary. It's worse if the disease is incurable. Unfortunately, none of us are invincible and as we grow older we become more prone to diseases such as cancer. Cancer is rising in society for various reasons and the thought that it won't happen to you or the people you love is not something you can afford to entertain any more.
Every year the annual Liberty' Claims Statistics shows that cancer remains the highest cause of all claims, particularly critical illness, death, and disability. There is currently no cure for cancer, which means it remains a significant cause of death in society. Even in cases when cancer doesn’t kill, it often results in significant lifestyle impact, significant disability and significant losses in terms of work and income. This means that there remains an increased need for Life and lifestyle protection, which becomes inevitable when this monster strikes.
According to the National Cancer Registry of South Africa (NCR) in 2015 alone there were approximately 115 091 new cancer cases in South Africa and 58 237 cancer related deaths in total. This number is unfortunately projected to increase.
Cancer survival statistics you should consider
The comforting news is that a cancer diagnosis is no longer a death sentence. There have been a lot of medical advancements that have ensured longevity. Prevention and early detection remain critical, and are associated with good cancer long term outcomes. The following statistics show the survival rates associated with specific cancers.
Bowel Cancer - More than 9 in 10 bowel cancer patients will survive the disease for more than 5 years if diagnosed at the earliest stage.
Breast Cancer - More than 90% of women diagnosed with breast cancer at the earliest stage survive their disease for at least 5 years compared to around 15% for women diagnosed with the most advanced stage of the disease.
Ovarian Cancer - More than 90% of women diagnosed with the earliest stage ovarian cancer survive this disease for at least 5 years compared to around 5% for women diagnosed with the most advanced stage of the disease.
Lung Cancer - Around 70% of lung cancer patients will survive for at least a year if diagnosed at the earliest stage compared to around 14% for people diagnosed with the most advanced stage of the disease.
While survival rates are improving, the mortality(death) and morbidity(disability) outcomes remain stagnant. Sharing these insights is therefore part of our efforts to educate South Africans on the importance of having the correct insurance cover in place.
We encourage you to revisit your long-term insurance cover by meeting with your financial adviser. It is also advisable to have regular health check-ups and screening to find out more about your cancer risk that may be associated with your family history or lifestyle.
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