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Research For The Detection And Treatment Of Cancer

With ever increasing life insurance premiums, it is a priority to keep health to an optimum for financial, as well as health, reasons. Early detection of illness and disease brings a better prognosis, if you or your local health authority can afford it. Pay outs of life insurance for long term illness are possible and could contribute towards the cost of health care.

Much has been made in the papers recently of the cost of drugs to prolong the life of breast cancer patients, resulting in a post code lottery as to whether or not your local health care authority can afford it.

One sufferer has taken her local authority to court to try to win the right to buy Avastin privately while still receiving the bulk of her care through the NHS. Unfortunately, the case has dragged on so long that doctors fear, even if she wins, it will be too late for her. In this case, a life insurance policy could have paid for the drug needed but probably ended up lining solicitor's pockets in the legal battle.

Having said this, advancements are being made every day in new detection methods and treatment of cancers that, hopefully, one day will be available to all. But, you have to ask, with medicine manufacturers actually employing sales people now, is it all too much of a business and will we ever really see the benefits?

Recent medical breakthroughs to make the papers are the saliva test soon to be available through dentists that can detect hormone changes that can lead to breast cancer. It is claimed the test will be as quick and easy as a pregnancy test. The test will cost around 10 pounds but if we pay for this will we be able to get treatment for it on the NHS?

Another treatment for breast cancer to be on the market shortly involves the use of, vesicular stomatatis virus, which normally causes flu in horses. The virus is being harnessed for its ability to hunt down and kill tumour cells without harming healthy tissue or causing pain or hair loss. VSV has been found to kick start the immune system, making it ideal as a follow up treatment to normal chemotherapy and radiotherapy drastically reducing the chance of reoccurrence.

Cancer is the number one claim on life insurance policies. Breakthroughs in cancer detection and treatments are being researched by scientists constantly, hopefully one day finding a cure and reducing life insurance premiums.

A camera the size of a 1 pounds coin is now being used in hospitals to help detect various illnesses including internal bleeding and tumours. It is not always possible to see these with standard x ray equipment but this camera is successful in 92% of cases. The camera capsule is swallowed following a two hour fast. It will work its way through the system over 24 hours transmitting pictures back to an externally worn receiver which can then be interpreted by a doctor.

With its wide angle view and automatic light control the camera can capture images at a rate of 18 frames per second. This will lead to swifter treatment, longer health and life and hopefully, less claims necessary on life insurance policies.

About the Author

Health expert Catherine Harvey looks at the medical advancements that should help reduce life insurance premiums. To find out more please visit http://www.theidol.com/

Author Profile: sparta

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