Practical solutions for an evolving disease

Cancer: an evolving disease
As one of the leading causes of death across the globe, cancer has been a focal point of research with the sole aim of finding a cure. However, over time researchers have come to realise that cancer is a complex disease because it is an evolving disease. In every patient, cancer cells undergo a myriad of molecular and genetic changes which makes this disease more resilient, more aggressive and more deadly.

A reality check
To really understand the global impact of cancer, we must refer to credible sources such as the World Health Organisation (WHO) which states that currently, cancer is responsible for nearly one in six deaths.

Jenny Ingram, Head of Product Development for Momentum Retail Life Insurance responds to this by adding that “This dominating impact of cancer can be seen locally as well with Momentum’s 2018 claim statistics which indicates that 45% of all critical illness claims were for cancer and 49% of all these cancer claims were gender specific. Actually, during the same period, 54% of female critical illness claims were specifically for breast cancer. This could explain various cancer awareness initiatives including the National Breast Cancer Awareness campaign during the month of October.”

Hope springs eternal
In spite of the complexities, researchers have not given up hope and there are currently a number of cutting-edge cancer treatments available to patients.

According to a recent article that was published on the website www.medicalnewstoday.com, the most common types of cancer treatments consist of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgery and hormonal therapy. Nonetheless, there are other types of cancer treatments that are being deployed, either on their own or in combination with traditional cancer treatments.

The nanoparticle “revolution”
Utilising nanoparticles to deliver cancer fighting drugs directly to tumours are regarded as a very efficient way to literally ‘hunt-down’ the micro tumours with precision. These nanoparticles consist of microscopic particles that can target cancer cells without harming healthy cells in close proximity.

Scientists have specifically experimented with “drug-filled” nanoparticles in the treatment of breast- and endometrial cancers. During 2017, scientists from China and the United Kingdom even managed to design a “self-regulating” nanoparticle that heats up tumours, thereby shrinking them while avoiding contact with healthy tissue.

Tumour “starving” strategies
Lately, there has been a greater emphasis on the impact of “starving” tumours of the nutrients they need to grow and spread. Researchers indicated that this type of strategy could have a significant influence on aggressive, resilient cancers that are difficult to eliminate. One such study, focussed on excluding a naturally occurring amino acid named glutamine, which stimulates the growth of cancer cells in more aggressive types of cancers including breast-, lung- and colon cancers.

Innovative vaccines
Dendritic vaccines consist of a strategy where dendritic cells, which play a key role in the body’s immune response, are removed from the body and “armed” with tumour-fighting antigens which finds and destroys relevant cancer cells. These dendritic cells are then injected back into the body to boost patients’ immune systems.

In a recent study, researchers in Switzerland managed to improve the actions of these dendritic vaccines by creating artificial receptors which recognise and “abduct” tiny vesicles that are linked to the cancer tumours’ spread in the body.

Practical implications
“Considering the statistics that were listed earlier, the likelihood of developing cancer in a lifetime is quite high”, according to Jenny and “Seeing that breast cancer is the most prominent type of cancer that affects women, two things come to mind:

Firstly, the early detection of breast cancer is something that we have control over. Going for regular check-ups can go a long way to detect the disease early on, especially if one considers that a mammogram can detect breast cancer up to two years before the tumour can be felt by a patient or their doctor.”

Jenny further explains by saying “What makes the diagnosis of breast cancer in women especially traumatic is the financial and emotional impact that it has on families. From a financial point of view, it often occurs during the financial productive years for most breadwinners and having to cope with the additional expenses associated with a critical illness, or less income because of the illness, can completely ruin families financially.

We often underestimate the role that women plays in terms of household contributions. Even a stay-at-home mom makes a significant contribution in the form of time and resources. Anyone who has been hospitalised knows that daily costs add up quickly and if a woman is affected by ill health, the financial strain on the family can be enormous.

While most of the medical costs linked to a critical illness can be covered by a medical aid, a serious long-term illness such as cancer can soon deplete the benefits. Also, due to the fact that cancer treatments are quite expensive, there will almost certainly be shortfalls in medical aid coverage. Clients must also take into account that there will be additional, non-medical expenses such as hiring an au pair to look after children, the cost of trips to-and-from treatments, seeking fertility treatment after going through the stringent cancer treatment process etc.”

Comprehensiveness is key
Jenny concludes by emphasising that “This serves as ample motivation to opt for comprehensive critical illness cover that includes pay-outs for early cancers. In addition, having adequate critical illness cover in place gives your clients access to tailored critical illness treatments that might otherwise have been unaffordable. Although some people are more genetically disposed to developing cancers, the largest portion of cancers is non-hereditary or sporadic. Therefore everyone, irrespective of gender, age or occupation, needs critical illness cover.

With Momentum Myriad, your clients can rest assure that they are comprehensively covered for critical illnesses, including coverage for nine defined early cancers. In addition, with Myriad’s Breadth of Cover Guarantee™, your clients will always receive a critical illness pay-out for all defined critical illness events, covered by us and any other local competitors.”