Women found with cancer have less chance of dying

Women found with cancer have less chance of dying from the disease than men. Experts acknowledge that the higher rate for men is due to a higher initial risk and later detection.

According to research reported by the National Cancer Institute the highest male-to-female mortality rate ratios for cancers are lip cancer, where 5.5 men died for each woman patient, and esophageal, where 4 men died for each woman patient.

The study examined over 30 different types of cancer examining data from 1977 to 2006. When examining lung cancer, the leading cause of cancer deaths for both men and women, the scientists report 2.3 male deaths for each female death.

"Men are more at risk of developing cancer to begin with," explains Jesse Slome, executive director of the American Association for Critical Illness Insurance, the national trade organization. "The average lifetime chance that a man will develop lung cancer is about 1 in 13, compared to 1 in 16 for a woman."

Researchers noted that men are more likely to have advanced disease conditions by the time their cancer is diagnosed. They noted that 28 percent of men do not visit the doctor regularly.

"Cancer is one of the leading critical illnesses impacting men along with heart disease," Slome explains. There were 1.5 million new cancer diagnosis in the United States according to the American Association for Critical Illness Insurance http://www.criticalillnessinsuranceinfo.org report. "Today cancer is survivable but medical expenses are now a leading cause of financial bankruptcy," Slome adds. "Even the best insurance policies no longer cover every cost associated with treating cancers and families face huge expenses,"

Individuals interested in receiving a cost quote for critical illness insurance from a designated American Association for Critical Illness Insurance professional can complete the organization's free quote request
form accessible at http://www.criticalillnessinsuranceinfo.org or obtain information by calling the Association's offices.

# # #

The American Association for Critical Illness Insurance http://www.criticalillnessinsuranceinfo.org is a national trade organization. Get info and costs at their Consumer Information Center: http://www.criticalillnessinsuranceinfo.org/learning-center/

--- end ---