Life Insurance?

Maybe this has been discussed before. If so, please point me in the right direction. 

As someone who might be out of work in the near future, what have you guys experienced when it comes to applying for life insurance? I've been told you can get it, but it costs a bundle for a reduced amount. As long as I am in a large corporation, I can get a substantial amount without having a physical. But if I am out there on my own, it is a different story.

Do any of you have any recommendations - or experiences good or bad?

Thanks,

kcragman

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Age: 52
March 2006: PSA 2.5

Dec 2007: PSA taken for insurance application. I did not see the results until late Jan '08 - after I was rejected. Their lab said PSA 4.5. PSA again in Feb '08: 3.7.

March 2008: Biopsy. Gleason 7 (4+3) 12 cores taken. 5 on the left side were cancerous and the 6th did not look good.

May 5, 2008: Da Vinci robotic laparoscopy at GW Hospital, Washington DC.

Post op: Gleason 9 (4+5). 15% of prostate involved. Stage: pT3a. Negative margins. Lymph nodes and associated glands all appear to be cancer free.

July 2008: PSA at 7 weeks was undetectable.
August 2008: PSA at 14 weeks (3 months) was undetectable.

I was told that I couldn't get any additional for at least a year after the operation...if then.

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Robotic RP 12/07
Age 46
Pre-surgical PSA 5.02
Bone scan/Chest X-ray clear
All margins, seminal vesicles, 17 lymphs clear
3+4=7
Three Post-surgical PSA's <0.01

I had gone to Select Quote who initially gave me a great quote thru Banner Life. However, they required me to have a physical. This is when I first discovered my high PSA. After going thru the surgery and even with no positive margins I re-applied, and was told they would not insure me. They said to come back in 3 years, and suggested even with that the premium would be out of sight.

Either the insurers know something we don't, or they are not looking at the same statistics that all of us are given about life expectancy after treatment. At any rate that is the way it is....RB

I had no PC in my family so this whole thing caught me by surprise. However, I had a doctor friend tell me they now know that breast cancer in women is the same gene as PC in men. When he told me that he did not know that boty my mom and sister have had breast cancer. Well, of course I don't know if any of this is true, but it is obvious from all the guys on this sight who have PC in their family and they have PC that it does run in the genes. I also have always been very healthy, and also eat well. I really doubt that has much to do with it. I would have to think it is in the genes. RB

Age 61
Original data - pre-operation
PSA: 5.1
T1C clinical diagnosis, Needle biopsy - 10 cores, Gleason 7 = 3+4 in 1 core (40%), 7 cores Gleason 6 = 3+3 ranging from 5% to 12%
All scans negative
Lupron administered 4/9/2008 for 4 months (with idea I would undergo external beam radiation followed by seed implants - then I changed my mind).
Robotic DiVinci surgery - Dr. Fagin (Austin) May 19th
Post operative - pathology
pT2c NX MX
Gleason 3+4
Margins - negative
Extraprostatic extension - negative
seminal vesicle invasion - uninvolved
1st Post PSA .04

Great post, and yes it's been posted here before.
And great response, Paul! I get mine through work also, so no physical. But my research says it's there, but it's a high price. AND I require a physical. I haven't researched it, but my guess is thay see my numbers and will make a house payment out if it!

The carriers will carry you, but count on the premiums to be relative to your status with PCa!!!

Tony

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Age 46 (44 when Dx)

Pre-op PSA was 19.8

Surgery on Feb 16, 2007 @ The City of Hope

Post-Op Pathology: Gleason 4+3=7, positive margins, Stage pT3b (Stage III)

HT began in May, '07 with Lupron and Casodex 50mg

IMRT radiation for 38 Treatments ending August 3, '07

Current PSA (May 9 '08): <0.1

I will continue HT until May '09. 

Years in Remission (3/23/07): 1

Visit my Journey at:

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/tonycrispino

And at:

http://prostatecancerinfolink.ning.com/profile/TonyCrispino

STAY POSITIVE!