We know March to be home to holidays like St. Patrick’s Day, but the month is also a time for more serious occasions, such as raising kidney cancer awareness. Although this cancer, also known as renal cell carcinoma, is among the 10 most commonly diagnosed cancers, it’s one that is much lesser-known. That’s why Kidney Cancer Awareness Month seeks to shed light on the risk factors for the disease, as well as the kidney cancer treatments available.
Here are five facts to raise your own kidney cancer awareness this March:
- Men are affected more often than women: One in 48 men is at risk for developing the disease, but just one in 83 women is affected.
- Age plays a factor: Kidney cancer is extremely uncommon in younger people. The average age of diagnosis is 64, and it’s very rare for someone to be diagnosed under the age of 45.
- Treatment can be expensive: Kidney cancer treatment most commonly centers on surgical removal of the kidney, also known as a nephrectomy. Without insurance, this procedure may cost anywhere from $15,000 to $75,000 and could be about one-third for a negotiated insurance price. For patients who are not good candidates for surgery, they may opt for drug treatment, a full course of which can cost $60,000-$80,000.
- New therapies are emerging: Several new oral therapies have recently been developed for kidney cancer treatment, and some have been shown to reduce toxicity and double the length of survival time compared to other therapies. However, these new therapies are more expensive and studies have shown that the higher price tag, coupled with other costs of cancer, is discouraging patients from pursuing these options. Recent research revealed that almost 40% fewer patients who had high out-of-pocket costs opted for drug therapy, when compared to those with less out-of-pocket expenses.
- Rates are on the rise: There are about 73,820 new diagnoses of kidney cancer each year, with nearly 15,000 people dying of the condition annually. While death rates have gone down slightly in the last few decades, rates of new diagnoses have been on the rise.
How can Life Credit Help Kidney Cancer Patients?
Through the Living Benefit Program, Life Credit provides loans for kidney cancer patients and others who have a serious illness. A Living Benefit Loan allows you to borrow money against any life insurance policy. You can receive up to 50% of your life insurance policy’s death benefit. Call us at 888-274-1777 to learn more and find out if you qualify for a life insurance loan today.