Bladder Cancer Insurance

When tissue in the exterior part of the bladder, most frequently urothelial cells, change and expand uncontrollably, creating a mass known as a tumour, bladder cancer develops. The renal pelvis, ureters, and urethra are all lined with urothelial cells. Another form of urothelial cancer, known as upper tract urothelial carcinoma, is cancer that originates in the ureters and renal pelvis. A urinary bladder tumour may be benign or malignant. When we say malignant, we mean the cancerous tumour’s ability to grow and spread to other parts of the body. If a urinary bladder tumour is benign, it can enlarge but won't spread. It is rare to find a urinary bladder tumour that is benign.

When discussing the types of bladder cancer, three different types of bladder carcinomas are the most common. These are squamous cell carcinoma, transitional cell carcinoma, or adenocarcinoma. These are named based on the place where they originate.

• Squamous Cell Carcinoma- Squamous cells, which are small, flattened cells that coat the urethra, can develop in the bladder during protracted episodes of bladder distress or inflammation. Approximately 5% of bladder tumours are squamous cell carcinomas.

• Transitional Cell Carcinoma- Over 90% of bladder tumours originate in the transitional cells lining the bladder wall's innermost portion. The malignancies that develop in these bladder-lining cells have the potential to occasionally enter the bladder's innermost layers (known as the lamina propria), its thick muscular layer, or its surrounding fatty tissues bypassing the bladder membrane.

• Adenocarcinoma- A extremely uncommon form of bladder cancer called adenocarcinoma develops in the glandular (secretory) cells that line the bladder. Adenocarcinoma makes up just 1% to 2% of bladder cancer cases.

When bladder cells experience DNA changes (mutations), bladder cancer starts to spread. The DNA of a cell carries instructions that direct the cell's actions. The adjustments instruct the cell to increase quickly and continue existing when normal cells would. A tumour created by the aberrant cells can penetrate and obliterate healthy body tissue. The aberrant cells have the potential to separate over time and increase (metastasise) throughout the body.

Now that we have spoken about the causes of bladder cancer, let us look at some risk factors that increase your risk of developing the disease.

• Men are at a greater risk of developing bladder carcinoma than females.

• People at an advanced age are more likely to be diagnosed with bladder cancer than younger people. Most people diagnosed with bladder cancer are over 55, though it is also possible for younger people to get urinary bladder cancer.

• People who smoke are at a greater risk of developing bladder cancer as tobacco makes chemicals accumulate in your urinary system. These chemicals can harm your bladder wall leading to cancer.

• Squamous cell bladder cancer risk may be increased by persistent or chronic urinary bladder infections or inflammations (cystitis), including those resulting from long-term urinary catheter usage.

• Filtering dangerous substances out of your bloodstream and transferring them to your bladder is a crucial function of your kidneys. As a result, it is believed that exposure to particular chemicals, like arsenic, may raise the incidence of bladder cancer.

• People who have previously received treatment for cancer, especially radiation for pelvic cancer, are also at higher risk for bladder cancer.

• If a close blood relative has bladder cancer, your chances of getting bladder cancer are higher.

The problem with bladder cancer symptoms is that it's very easy to confuse them with the symptoms of some very common diseases like a UTI or Urinary Tract Infection. However, you must keep a sharp eye out and be careful about your symptoms because it is important to catch the disease early on, and that will only happen if you go to the doctor with a list of your symptoms in time.

Some symptoms to look out for in case of bladder cancer are

• Blood in your urine

• The need to urinate frequently

• Pain while passing urine

• Lower back pain

• Bloating in the lower stomach

• Pain in the lower stomach

• Inability to control urine

• Fatigue

• Weight loss

• Tenderness in your bones

• Swelling of the feet

If you notice any of these symptoms, you must approach your doctor and start treatment soon.

To ascertain whether an infection might be the source of your symptoms, your physician will seek to conduct a urine analysis (urinalysis). The term "cytology" refers to the microscopic analysis of urine to check for cancer cells.

The primary method for locating and diagnosing bladder cancer is a cystoscopy. A laser telescope (cystoscope) is put into your bladder through the urethra in this technique to observe the bladder's interior and, if done under anaesthesia, to collect tissue samples (biopsy), which are then evaluated for indications of cancer under a microscope. To lessen discomfort during this treatment in the doctor's office, a local anaesthetic gel is injected into the urethra beforehand.

The urinary bladder tumour needs to be removed to perform a thorough screening, and the diagnosis of bladder cancer is determined to cause your symptoms.

To identify whether the disease has moved outside of the bladder in certain individuals with invasive carcinoma, the next step may be a CT scan of the abdominal area.

It is also possible to perform magnetic resonance imaging, which creates precise images using a magnet, radio signals, and a computer and is useful for strategising additional therapies. A chest X-ray might be taken to determine whether any cancer has metastasised to the lungs. A bone scan may occasionally be carried out to check for the progression of the disease to the bones. However, these tests are not performed on all patients with bladder cancer but on those whose extreme cases or whose doctors feel the need for these tests.

There are various steps your doctor may take to treat your cancer based on how deeply rooted the tumour is or how advanced the cancer is. The various treatment options when it comes to bladder cancer include;

• Surgery- Surgery is among the most preferred options when it comes to bladder cancer. Depending on the patient's condition, doctors use surgery methods, like Cystectomy or Transurethral Resection. In some cases, the doctor may also remove the bladder entirely if they feel it will help the hope of survival of the patient.

• Chemotherapy- Chemotherapy is the practice of administering any of a class of medications whose primary function is to either kill or inhibit the division of rapidly proliferating cells. Chemotherapy medications are absorbed by cancer cells more quickly than by normal cells. According to the phase of cancer, chemotherapy medications are either administered intravenously (via a vein) or intravesically (straight into the bladder by a catheter inserted via the ureter). However, chemotherapy can also damage healthy and cancer cells, making a person sicker in the process.

• Radiation- Radiation therapy involves exposing cancer cells to high-energy X-rays or other forms of radiation, which causes DNA damage. It could be used with surgical options or chemotherapy or as a substitute for surgery. Patients can receive internal and external radiation depending on their condition and needs. Radiation sessions are usually spaced out because the body can often take a hit after exposure to such high frequencies.

• Immunotherapy- Immunotherapy attacks cancer cells with the body's natural immune system. In the intravesical therapy of bladder tumours in the early stages of bladder cancer, a vaccination known as Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is frequently employed. The method involves retaining a BCG-containing solution in the bladder for a limited period before draining it. This vaccine helps the body fight cancer from within. Immunotherapy is usually used only when no other option works for the patient.

When it comes to cancer, there is no way to say that doing something or not doing something may save you from the disease. Otherwise healthy people may also develop cancer without warning. However, there are certain practices to undertake that can help reduce your chances of getting bladder cancer. These are;

• Be cautious when around chemicals. Follow all safety recommendations if you operate with chemicals to prevent exposure.

• Avoid smoking. Stop smoking if you don't already. If you smoke, discuss a strategy with your doctor to help you quit. You may be able to quit using support groups, medications, and other strategies.

• A diet of fruits and vegetables should be preferred. Pick a diet high in a diversity of fruit and vegetables. Antioxidants found in fruits and vegetables may lower your risk of developing cancer.

• Exercise frequently. Maintaining good physical health can help reduce your chances of developing cancer.

• If you have a family history of bladder cancer, get screenings done frequently. These screenings can help you get a diagnosis early on and nip the disease in the bud if you develop it.

Cancer can afflict any person at any given time. People with no symptoms or who are otherwise healthy might find out they have cancer. The thing with cancer is that even if you feel otherwise okay, starting treatment as soon as you have a diagnosis is important. So, if you go the extra mile and get urinary bladder health insurance, you will not have to worry when the time to begin treatments comes.

Some other reasons why getting mediclaim insurance is a good idea are;

• Healthcare Costs- Treatment for illnesses has always been rather expensive, and costs have only gone up in recent years. Paying for health care can be very challenging for many regular Indians, especially in hospitalisation and drawn-out procedures. Having mediclaim insurance is helpful in such circumstances. You are well aware that you can receive the best care possible, and your insurance will cover the financial side of providing that care. You become more at ease while receiving treatment, which speeds up your recovery.

• Cashless Benefits- Unexpected medical emergencies can happen at any time. You or your family might require immediate hospitalisation, but arranging funds might be a problem. But If your health insurance comes with cashless benefits, this won't be an issue because your health insurance plan will handle the payments. This also helps keep your savings intact.

• Pre and Post-Hospitalisation- Tata AIG is aware that hospitalisation costs, particularly those associated with surgery, go beyond just the cost of the hospital stay. Before being admitted to the hospital, you may incur testing costs, and after being released from the hospital, you may incur dressing change fees or re-consultation fees. As a result, we also give you coverage for these costs.

• Tax Benefits- When you buy health insurance, you take care of your health and get tax benefits. You can get a deduction of up to ₹25,000 on your policy premiums and up to ₹50,000 if you are paying the premiums for senior citizens.

You can purchase Tata AIG's health insurance coverage in two easy ways. The insurance can be purchased offline or online. Both approaches are easy to follow and don't require much time. We'll briefly go through both options so you can decide how you want to purchase your policy.

Online: Most customers who purchase a policy from us do so online since it allows them to do so at their leisure and comfort. For how simple and quick it is, this option has become even more popular among younger consumers. Just Go to our website, and follow these steps:

• Choose whether you want to buy the insurance for yourself/your spouse/your children/your parents.

• Once you determine the insured, click on ‘Get Plan’.

• Furnish the required information, which is your mobile number, date of birth, and email ID, and Tata AIG will suggest the best plans for you.

• Select the sum insured from the drop-down to see the premium amount.

• You can compare the plans to see what suits you best.

• Select the plan you want to go ahead with, and click on ‘Buy Now’.

• One of our experts will contact you and assist you in your purchase.

• Once you have paid the application fee, you will receive your policy in a few moments if all your details are in place.

Offline- If buying a policy online is not the course you wish to take. You can also choose to purchase the policy offline. To buy a policy offline, you need to;

• Find an AIG office closest to you

• Visit the office and ask for a policy application form from the counter

• Our insurance officer will approach you to explain the various options available

• Once you have decided on a plan, you can fill out the application form

• Attach the documents being asked for along with the application form

• Submit the application form at the appropriate counter

• Pay the application fee

Following the above steps will conclude your policy purchase process. The insurance officers will verify your application and documents, and if everything is in place, you will receive the insurance papers in your mail soon.

If you wish to buy Tata AIG’s mediclaim insurance, you need to submit the following documents —

• Income proof

• ID proof

• Residence proof

• Age Proof

• Recent passport size photographs

• Any documents relating to your medical history