Endometrial Cancer Insurance
Endometrial Cancer Insurance
The world of today is fast-paced and very demanding. The air quality is poor, food is not fresh or healthy, and health requirements have become almost secondary to the demands of daily life. This means that people are more vulnerable to a whole host of diseases. One such disease is cancer. We do not know the reason behind cancer, but we know it is linked to lifestyle and heredity. While people of ages and genders are vulnerable to most types of cancers, some cancers are gender and age-specific. In the second category falls endometrial cancer, cancer that affects only women.
When it comes to endometrial cancer, one thing that is good to know is that it is highly curable. However, you should not be misled into believing that the process will be over in a short while. Treating any cancer, especially endometrial cancer, needs time and, with time, also a significant amount of money. People often talk about how it has the power to drain people financially. But this does not have to be the case. A person can always get endometrial cancer insurance to ease the financial burden of getting endometrial cancer treatment. When you have health insurance for endometrial cancer, you know that you can get the best possible care while not worrying about finances.
If you are looking for the right endometrial cancer insurance coverage, you do not need to look further than a health insurance plan from Tata AIG. Our critical illness insurance has been formulated to ensure you get the best care possible without worrying about money. When you have a health insurance policy with us, you also get access to a large network of the best hospitals in the country while receiving cashless services. Also, our critical illness insurance plans are easy to buy and renew at your convenience. So when you think of buying critical illness insurance to beat cancer, always choose Tata AIG as your fighter.
After knowing how a health insurance policy can help, let us look into what endometrial cancer is and the causes of endometrial cancer, followed by its treatment plans.
What is Endometrial Cancer?
The endometrium is the term for the uterus lining. The most typical carcinoma of the female reproductive system is endometrial carcinoma or cancer. Endometrial carcinoma differs from uterine carcinoma, cancer of the uterus' structural tissues or muscles. Adenocarcinomas make up about 80% of all endometrial cancers. This indicates that cancer develops in the endometrium's gland-producing cells. When detected in the early stages, endometrial carcinoma is highly treatable. A relatively uncommon form of uterine cancer called uterine carcinosarcoma combines uterine and endometrial cancer elements. Endometrial hyperplasia can turn into endometrial carcinoma at all times, so people with it must get endometrial hyperplasia treatment at the earliest possible time.
Types of Endometrial Cancer
Your doctor may identify the type of endometrial carcinoma you have if you receive a diagnosis of type 1 and type 2. Type 1 endometrial carcinoma makes up about 80% of cases. This type typically takes a little longer to form, develop, and disseminate. Experts believe excessive oestrogen causes this type of cancer. It can occasionally result from a condition known as atypical hyperplasia, where the endometrium produces an excessive number of cells. Endometrial hyperplasia treatment is recommended as soon as possible if a person is diagnosed with hyperplasia. The outlook is typically favourable for those with type 1 endometrial cancer. A prognosis is a prediction of how your disease will progress.
Type 2 endometrial cancer can account for 20% of cases. This variety has a higher propensity to develop and metastasise outside your uterus. An overabundance of oestrogen does not bring on this kind of cancer. Compared to type 1, the outlook isn't as favourable. This type of endometrial cancer typically requires more intensive therapies from doctors.
Your doctor may discuss the "grade" of endometrial cancer if you are given a type 1 or type 2 diagnosis. The grade of the majority of cancers is a score that indicates how aberrant your cancerous cells seem under a lens. A lower score indicates that the cancer cells appear more normal, and generally speaking, it indicates that your tumour is more inclined to grow slowly. For example, type 1 endometrial cancer includes endometrioid adenocarcinomas in grades 1 and 2. Your physician may refer to these as "lower grade." Type 2 endometrial cancer is present in grade 3 endometrioid tumours. The doctor can describe it as "poorly differentiated" or a higher grade.
Doctors classify cancer into various groups depending on how the cells appear under a lens. Endometrioid carcinoma is cancer that develops in glandular tissue and is the most prevalent form of endometrial cancer. Endometroid cancer can look similar to a healthy uterine lining when seen under a lens. It thus needs to be seen by a highly specialised doctor.
Endometrial Cancer Stages
Knowing the stage at which your cancer is is very important as it will help your doctor decide on your treatment plan. The stages of cancer tell you how far the disease has spread and if it has metastasised outside the base organ.
The stages of endometrial cancer are as follows;
- Stage I- The cancer is localised and has not spread outside the uterus. It is easier to treat the disease at this stage.
- Stage II- Cancer has spread to nearby organs. While a little tougher to deal with than in stage I, the cancer is still highly curable at this stage.
- Stage III- Cancer has metastasised to other major organs like the vagina, ovaries, and blood vessels.
- Stage IV- At this stage, the cancer is no longer easy to deal with as it has spread to farther organs, including the heart, lungs, brain and so on.
Causes of Endometrial Cancer
The exact cause of endometrial cancer still remains unknown. However, doctors think that variations in the body's natural oestrogen levels and progesterone frequently play a role. Your endometrium is impacted by changes in the concentrations of certain sex chemicals. Endometrial cells grow and proliferate when the ratio of oestrogen to progesterone alters in favour of higher oestrogen concentrations. Endometrial cells can develop into cancer if particular genetic mutations take place. These cancer cells multiply quickly and develop into a tumour. Researchers are still examining the alterations that lead to the development of cancerous endometrial cells from healthy cells.
While we may not know what exactly causes endometrial cancer, we do know that certain risk factors may increase a person’s propensity to develop the disease. If you know your risk factors, you can be more careful and even get the help you need in time.
Some factors that can increase your chances of getting endometrial cancer are as follows;
- Significant Alterations in the Body's Hormones- Progesterone and oestrogen are the two primary female hormones produced by the ovaries. The endometrium changes as a result of variations in hormonal levels. Your chance of developing endometrial cancer can rise if you have an illness or condition that raises the levels of progesterone but not oestrogen in your body. Instances are obesity, polycystic ovaries, and diabetes can cause irregular ovulation patterns. The danger of endometrial cancer is increased when estrogen-only hormones are taken after menopause. The chance of endometrial cancer can also rise in uncommon ovarian tumours that release oestrogen.
- Starting Menstruation Early- Endometrial cancer risk is increased by early menstruation and delayed onset of menopause. The greater oestrogen your endometrium has been exposed to, the more cycles you've had.
- Not Having A Child- You are more likely to get endometrial cancer if you have never given birth. People with even one child are safer than those without any.
- Advanced Age- Your risk of developing endometrial cancer rises with age. Endometrial cancer is most commonly found in people post-menopause.
- Obesity- Obesity raises your chance of developing endometrial cancer. This might happen due to your body's hormonal levels being altered by extra body fat.
- Breast Cancer Hormone Treatment- Tamoxifen, a hormone treatment medication used to treat breast cancer, can raise the chances of endometrial cancer. Talk to your doctor about this risk if you use tamoxifen. The advantages of tamoxifen typically outweigh the small possibility of developing endometrial cancer.
- Lynch Syndrome- The syndrome known as Lynch raises the risk of endometrial cancer as well as colon and other malignancies. A gene mutation that is transmitted from parents to kids is the cause of Lynch syndrome. It is very important to have a conversation with your doctor if someone in your close family circle has had Lynch Syndrome.
Please remember that risk factors do not equate to developing the disease. It just means that you may have a higher chance of developing it. Several people may go their entire life having these risk factors while not having cancer. So, if you find any of these risk factors, have a word with your doctor and get screened just to be on the safe side.
Endometrial Cancer Symptoms
The problem with diseases in the female reproductive organs is that it is often easy to get them mixed up with some other condition. Cramps and untimely bleeding can be passed off as just a difficult period when in reality, it is much more than that. A person needs to know exactly what to look out for to prevent the more serious disease from progressing.
Thus to help you understand what you need to keep an eye on, here are the main symptoms of endometrial cancer you need to look out for.
- Sudden changes in your period patterns
- Very heavy bleeding in between periods
- Experiencing pain during sex
- Increased vaginal discharge, which is sometimes tinged with blood
- Sudden weight loss
- Severe cramps
- Pain in the back and pelvic region
- Feeling of a mass in your pelvis
- Periods post menopause
- Difficulty in passing urine
If you notice any of these symptoms, you must go to a gynaecologist at once and get checked out for any abnormalities in your reproductive system.
Endometrial Cancer Diagnosis
Schedule a visit with your physician or gynaecologist if you experience symptoms that could indicate endometrial cancer. Your medical history and current symptoms will be discussed with your doctor. To check and feel for any anomalies in the uterus or other reproductive organs, they will conduct a pelvic exam. They could request a transvaginal ultrasound examination to look for tumours or other anomalies. Apart from these, there are several other ways in which a doctor may be able to determine if you have endometrial cancer or not.
Some of these ways include;
- Internal Pelvic Examination: This is carried out to check for lumps or any changes in the uterus.
- Pap Test- The Pap test, commonly known as a Pap smear, involves examining cells taken from the cervix under a microscope to look for alterations that could indicate cancer or disorders that could lead to noncancerous conditions like infection or swelling.
- Endometrial Biopsy: In this process, an endometrial cell sample is obtained by inserting a small, pliable tube into the uterus. The sample is inspected under a lens to determine whether cancer or other aberrant cells exist. The test is usually carried out in a doctor's office, and the patient is not required to get admitted for it.
- Dilation and Curettage: If a regular biopsy is not feasible or further medical data is required, your doctor might advise a D&C. The cervix is distended during this quick procedure so that the uterine wall and cervical channel can be scoured with a curette. The pathologist looks for cancerous cells in the tissue.
- Transvaginal Ultrasound: Transvaginal ultrasound, commonly known as ultrasonography, is an ultrasound examination that involves inserting a tiny device called a transducer into the vagina. If the endometrium appears overly thick, the doctor could perform a biopsy. If the endometrium is thick, endometrial hyperplasia treatment will be required.
Endometrial Cancer Treatment
Endometrial cancer treatment relies on the stages of cancer, including whether it is contained in the endometrium or has progressed to other organs. The majority of patients will undergo surgery first. Some people might require more therapy. In general, a few of the following are used to treat endometrial cancer patients.
Hysterectomy-Hysterectomy surgery is frequently used to treat endometrial cancer. A hysterectomy involves the removal of the uterus by a surgeon. They may also perform a bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, removing the fallopian tubes and ovaries. BSO and hysterectomy are frequently carried out together.
- Radiation- High-energy beams are used in radiation therapy to eliminate cancer cells.
To manage endometrial cancer, radiation therapy is primarily divided into two categories:
- External Radiation: Radiation beams are focused on the uterus by equipment outside of your body.
Internal Radiation: The uterus or vagina is given radioactive elements to put within the body. This also goes by the name of brachytherapy.
After surgery, your doctor can suggest either a single or both forms of radiation therapy. This can aid in the elimination of any cancer cells that could survive the surgery.
Chemotherapy- Chemotherapy uses medication to eradicate cancer cells. A single medicine may be used in some chemotherapy treatments, whereas multiple drugs may be used in others. The medications you take during chemotherapy may be in pill form or intravenously, according to your type.
Targeted Therapy-The use of medications designed to target specific alterations in the cancerous cells is a relatively new method of treating endometrial cancer. Since many of these targeted treatment medications are still being tested in clinical studies, only a small number of them are now on the market.
Immunotherapy- Another more customised method is immunotherapy, which is administering medicines to help the immune system identify and eliminate cancer cells.
Hormone Therapy- Hormone treatment modifies the body's hormone levels by using hormones or hormone-blocking medications. Endometrial cancer cells may grow more slowly as a result. Your doctor may suggest hormone therapy if you have advanced-stage endometrial cancer. Additionally, if endometrial cancer has returned following therapy, they might advise it.
Prevention of Endometrial Cancer
Since we do not know what exactly causes endometrial cancer, it is not easy to say what could be a good way to prevent it. There are some easy ways in which you could boost your overall well-being and keep diseases away, and there are some tips that may help you keep cancer at bay. However, this is not to say that you will always be safe from endometrial cancer.
Here are a few tips to keep yourself safe from endometrial cancer.
Take into account using birth control pills. Endometrial cancer chances may be decreased by consuming contraceptive pills for at least a year. After you stop using contraceptive pills, the decreased risk is believed to continue for several years. However, oral contraceptives come with their own negative reactions, so speak with your doctor about how you should proceed.
If you had a diagnosis of Lynch syndrome, tell your doctor about it. Your doctor could advise genetic screening if Lynch syndrome runs in your family. If you suffer from Lynch syndrome, your doctor can suggest removing your fallopian tubes, ovaries, and uterus in order to stop cancer from spreading there.
Maintaining a healthy weight can be a good way to keep endometrial cancer at bay. If weight loss is your goal, you can proceed by increasing your physical exercise quotient and trying to eat more healthy.
If you are considering hormone replacement therapy, then it is recommended that you have a serious chat with your doctor about the same as it can have a direct link to endometrial cancer.
Keep an eye out for clusters of specific types of cancer in your family background. Ask your physician if genetic screening is a smart option if you've found reproductive organ cancers prevalent in your family.
Why Use a Health Insurance Policy
Fighting cancer is tough in any given situation. If you add monetary concerns to it, fighting the disease becomes even tougher, and with it comes the guilt of spending the built-up savings. However, there is no need for a person to put themselves through that. All you need to do is get endometrial cancer insurance. If you have health insurance for endometrial cancer, you must focus on your health and improve. Your endometrial cancer coverage will take care of the rest.
Some reasons people should buy critical illness insurance for their cancer treatment are given below.
Cashless Hospitals—Medical emergencies can occur at any time. If you or a member of your family needs hospitalisation right away, finding the money may be difficult. This won't be a problem if your health insurance policy has cashless benefits because the insurance provider will take care of the payments. Additionally, this saves you money by preventing you from dipping into your savings.
Pre-Hospitalisation and Post-Hospitalisation- Tata AIG is mindful that hospitalisation expenses often exceed the price of the hospital stay, especially when surgery is included. You could have to pay for tests prior to getting hospitalised, and you might have to pay for dressing changes or follow-up appointments after being discharged. We do not want you to cover any charges out of your pocket, so we also cover these costs.
Healthcare Costs – The cost of treating ailments has traditionally been high and has only been more so in recent years. For many average Indians, affording medical treatment can be exceedingly difficult, particularly when involved in hospitalisation and therapies stretching for a significant time. In such cases, getting a health insurance policy is beneficial. You feel at ease knowing you have the option to have the greatest care available and that the insurance will take care of the associated costs.
Tax Relief- By purchasing critical illness insurance, you can protect your health while also getting tax relief. If you are covering the insurance payments for parents over 60, you may be eligible for a refund of up to 50,000 on policy payments, and those under 60 can get rebates up to 25000.
How to Buy Tata AIG’s Health Insurance Policy
Buying insurance from Tata AIG is easy and does not take much time. You can buy insurance both online and offline as per your choice. We will be detailing both methods so you can choose the option you feel is best. So have a look at the steps below to choose how to buy your insurance.
Online- To buy your insurance online, you need to;
- Decide if you want to get insurance for yourself, your parents, spouse, kids, or all after visiting our website.
- Once you have identified the insured, select "Get Plan."
- Give Tata AIG the necessary details—your mobile number, birth date, and email address—and they will recommend the best policies for you.
- Select your sum assured to determine the best policy for you and your family.
- The plans can be compared to see which one best suits you.
- Choose the package you want to purchase, then click "Buy Now."
- A staff member will contact you and help you with your transaction.
Once you have made your purchase, you should receive your policy in a few minutes after your details have been verified.
Offline- To buy your policy offline, here is what you must do;
- Find one of the several AIG offices closest to you.
- Go to the office and approach the reception.
- State the purpose of your visit.
- An official will approach you to discuss what your options are.
- Once you have decided, ask for the papers you need to fill out.
- Fill out the forms and attach the necessary documents.
- Submit the forms and documents.
- Pay the fee.
You will receive your policy in a few days, post verification.
What Documents Do I Need to Buy Tata AIG’s Critical Illness Insurance?
While buying insurance from Tata AIG, you need to submit the following documents;
- Age proof
- ID proof
- Proof of income
- Address proof
- Passport size photographs
- Any documents relevant to your health history
Disclaimer / TnC
Your policy is subjected to terms and conditions & inclusions and exclusions mentioned in your policy wording. Please go through the documents carefully.