Lung Cancer Cover in health Insurance

Lung carcinoma, like other cancers, arises when the regular mechanisms of cell growth and division are hampered, resulting in irregular, unregulated growth. The cells develop into a tumour-like mass. The term "malignant," or "cancerous," refers to any abnormal development in the body that immediately invades neighbouring structures and organs, extends to other areas of the body, or possesses the potential to regrow after being removed.

Lung cancer can affect persons who have never smoked, but smoking is among the greatest lung cancer causes recorded. The quantity and frequency of tobacco you've consumed are related to your chance of developing lung cancer. However, you can always take matters into your own hands and stop your chances of developing lung cancer by quitting.

But even if you develop the disease and detect the early signs of lung cancer, getting fully cured is possible.

Based on how lung cancer cells look under a microscope, how they spread and how they need to be treated, doctors classify the disease into two types of lung cancer. Depending on the primary form of lung carcinoma you have, your doctor will decide how to proceed with treatment.

The following are the two types of lung cancer:

Small Cell Lung Cancer - Small cell lung carcinoma is less prevalent than non-small cell lung carcinoma and nearly exclusively affects heavy smokers. Chances of survival after being diagnosed with small cell lung cancer are fairly low.

Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer - The term "non-small cell lung cancer" refers to various lung malignancies. Squamous cell carcinoma, large cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma are non-small cell lung cancers. Understanding the type of lung cancer you have and getting treatment for it soon is imperative as lung cancer spreads very fast, and if it reaches other organs of your body, treatment becomes very difficult.

There are several lung cancer causes recorded by doctors and scientists. Some of the most common lung cancer causes are;

Tobacco - About 80% of lung cancers are caused by tobacco use, which has a direct correlation to the progression of lung cancer. Smoking a pipe or a cigar can also lead to lung cancer. Over 4,000 chemical components, most of which cause cancer, are found in tobacco smoke (carcinogens).

Passive Smoking - The inhaling of tobacco smoke by people who don't smoke but live or work around smokers is known to increase their chance of developing lung cancer.

Hereditary Component - While tobacco use is a common cause of lung cancer, not all users go on to suffer the disease, and lung carcinoma can afflict people who have never been exposed to tobacco smoke. These findings imply a genetic vulnerability toward lung cancer.

Age - Old age has been associated with the development of lung cancer as cells can mutate abnormally at a greater degree with advanced age.

Air Pollution - Air pollution has been a significant contributor to lung cancer. People, especially those living in industrial areas and inhaling exhaust smoke emitted by these industries, are more susceptible to developing lung cancer.

Lung Diseases - People with lung diseases like pulmonary tuberculosis or lung fibrosis are more susceptible to developing lung cancer.

Other Causes - Exposure to gases like radon and other substances like asbestos, nickel, arsenic and chromium can also cause lung cancer.

Some of the most common lung cancer symptoms have been detailed below for your knowledge. Until and unless you do not know what the lung cancer symptoms are and what you need to look out for, you may not know when to get help.

• Severe cough that is persistent over a prolonged period
• Blood in your cough
• Chest pain
• Breathlessness
• Pain while talking or laughing hard
• Roughness in the voice
• Exhaustion
• Nausea
• Loss of appetite
• Sudden loss of weight

The symptoms given above are some of the earliest signs of lung cancer. At a more advanced stage, you may notice:

• Lumps in the neck region
• Pain in the hips and back
• Yellowness in the eyes and pallor
• Balance issues
• Seizure
• Coma
• Water retention in the body
• Diabetes

Usually, suspicion of lung cancer in a patient arises from an abnormal result on a chest imaging test (chest X-ray or CT scan) or when the condition has progressed to the point that symptoms including coughing, breathlessness, chest pain, exhaustion, and weight loss are present. You may then be asked to get a few blood tests done to confirm your lung cancer diagnosis. If the blood tests are inconclusive, your doctor might ask for a PET scan to confirm if you have cancer.

A biopsy, or the excision of tissues or cells from the abnormal lump, is necessary for diagnosis. A needle put under the skin further into the lung tumour or a bronchoscope fed via the breathing passages can be used to take biopsies. If these methods are unsuccessful, surgery might be needed to make a reliable diagnosis. The biopsy is crucial in detecting the type of lung cancer you are suffering from and determining the course of treatment.

It is incredibly difficult to treat lung cancer. The most important criteria influencing the survival chance are the cell type and phase at the initial diagnosis. Those that are treatable may have a confined diagnosis.

Unfortunately, most patients receive a diagnosis after the cancer has spread outside the chest (distant or advanced) or affected the chest nodes (regional). Additionally, because they are such delicate organs, the lungs may not respond well to some treatments. This may explain why lung cancer has among the lowest rates of survival.

However, some of the most common lung cancer treatment options are:

• Surgery - Surgery is considered the best option for people with early-stage cancer. For people whose cancer is confined, removing the tumour and associated lung tissue offers the highest chance of recovery.

Thoracic surgeons who specialise in treating lung cancer and several other chest abnormalities are the ones who will be doing the surgery. Your doctor will decide if a tumour can be removed (removable). Due to their proximity to or invasion of important structures, certain tumours are not always amenable to surgical removal.

• Chemotherapy - Chemotherapy is the application of medications that destroy rapidly proliferating cells, like cancer cells. Chemotherapy can be administered intravenously, or straight into a vein, or a catheter can administer it, a tiny tube inserted into a big vein and left there till it is not required. Some chemotherapy medications are swallowed as pills.

• Radiation - Both NSCLC and SCLC may be treated with radiation therapy, which uses powerful energy rays to destroy cancer cells. The goal is to eliminate cancer cells while sparing healthy cells from harm. Radiation is a viable alternative for people who are not eligible for surgery or who choose not to have surgery. It can also eliminate residual cancer cells that could still persist following surgery.

• Immunotherapy - Immunotherapy medications work by enhancing, regulating, or recovering the body's inherent anti-cancer mechanisms to help patients overcome cancer on their own.

There is no sure way to say that a particular activity or refraining from it will lead to or prevent lung cancer.

However, one can take a few precautions to protect themselves and others.

1. If you are someone who smokes regularly, there is a high risk of you developing lung cancer. Quit smoking to safeguard your lungs from cancer.
2. If you are someone who does not smoke but has an affinity for it, do not give in to the urge.
3. Stay at a distance from people smoking so as not to inhale the cigarette smoke.
4. Do not consume tobacco in any form or manner.
5. Check your house for radon gas.
6. Wear a mask when you are in an industrial area with exhaust fumes.
7. Wear proper gear if working in a factory where dangerous fumes are released.
8. If someone in your family circle has lung cancer, get tested to see if you have inherited the gene for it.
9. Keep an eye out for early signs of lung cancer and seek help if you notice any symptoms.
10. Eat healthily and exercise regularly to keep your immune system strong.

If you are wondering why you need to buy health insurance, the answer is simple. You need health insurance because life is unpredictable, and health is the one variable we can never count on. Having a medical insurance plan helps you stay ready to face any medical situation with support by your side.

Some other reasons you need to buy health insurance are;

Lifestyle - The lives people lead today are not conducive to good physical or mental health. It is an open invitation to an entire gamut of lifestyle diseases into our lives. And often, it is very difficult even if you want to change your living patterns. Today you hear of a 30-year-old suffering a stroke because of high levels of stress and pressure. Health insurance helps you stay prepared in case your health goes wrong.

Covid-19 Cover - When talking about lung disease, it is impossible not to talk about Covid-19. If your lungs have become weak owing to lung cancer treatments, it makes you more susceptible to contracting Covid and having severe symptoms. But if you have a medical insurance plan, you can rush to a hospital at the first sign of Covid symptoms and get the care you deserve without worrying about the cost.

Peace of Mind - Health insurance makes you feel secure about getting medical care without worrying about its financial burden. You do not need to worry about arranging for funds when you fall sick, nor do you need to worry about dipping into your savings. It helps you enjoy mental and financial security.

Cashless Hospitalisation - A health emergency can crop up at any given time. You may not be financially prepared to deal with it. You should not even have to worry about finances when dealing with health problems, whether they be yours, or your family members. Here is when having cashless hospitalisation benefits is very helpful. You can be secure in the knowledge that whenever a health emergency comes up you can get the best possible care without worrying about finances.

If you wish to buy Tata AIG’s health insurance, you can do it online and offline.

To buy your medical insurance plan online, you need to

• Go to our website and browse the plans there.
• Once you have found a plan you like, you can click on apply.
• You will then be taken to the page with the application form.
• Fill in the application form and look at the requested documents list.
• Attach those documents with your application.
• Click on submit.
• You will be redirected to the payment page.
• Pay your application fee, and you should receive your policy statement in your email in a short while.

You can also apply for health insurance with us offline. To apply offline, you must

• Visit any of our branches closest to you.
• Approach the counter and ask for an application form.
• Fill out the application form carefully and submit it with the necessary documents.
• Go to the counter and submit your documents.
• You will then be taken to pay your application fees.

Once you pay the fee, you can return home and wait for the application to be processed. You will receive your policy in the mail in a few days if everything is in place.

To buy Tata AIG’s health insurance, you will need to submit the following documents;

• Residence proof
• ID proof
• Age proof
• Passport-size photographs
• Any documents relating your medical history that may be relevant to your policy.