Plan4Life Cancer Cover

Diagnosis of cancer

George is 62 and has a blood test done by his GP which shows his PSA is high. At the hospital he has a biopsy (test on some sample tissue) which shows no sign of cancer. His specialist has told him that he might well have prostate cancer even though nothing showed up on the biopsy so he is kept under regular follow-up in the hospital clinic. Can George claim under the policy?

No, because the diagnosis of cancer has not been confirmed there is no cash payment at this stage.

Two years later George undergoes more biopsies and this time they do show prostate cancer.George's specialist tells him that this is indeed a diagnosis of prostate cancer and he will need treatment. Is anything payable now?

This is a confirmed diagnosis of cancer so George is entitled to claim the maximum Plan4Life Cancer Cover payment; as he has the level two plan this is £10,000. To receive payment he simply has to fill in the claim form and supply a copy of the laboratory report confirming the biopsy results, together with the letter from his specialist confirming the diagnosis.

As George receives the maximum payout under his policy, it is automatically terminated by BHSF. However he is still free to use the counselling support service if he wants further advice.

Recurrence of cancer

Brenda, 47, took out her Plan4Life Cancer Cover policy three years ago. She previously had localised breast cancer when she was 37, and had surgery on her left breast. Brenda has just been to the doctor with a lump in her right breast and is concerned that this might be a recurrence of breast cancer. Is Brenda eligible to claim?

If this is a recurrence of breast cancer it will be excluded, because it has been identified in the same organ system as the original diagnosis. No payment will be made but Brenda will still have access to the Plan4Life Cancer Cover GP helpline and counselling support service.

Childhood leukaemia

Sally was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukaemia when she was four years of age; happily, Sally was cured of the disease. At 28 she notices a breast lump and following a mammogram (scan) and a biopsy, it is confirmed as being ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast. Can Sally claim on her Plan4Life Cancer Cover policy?

The fact that Sally had childhood leukaemia is not relevant to this claim as it was a completely unrelated cancer. Sally has a level one plan and she is able to claim £5,000 under this benefit category.

Previous abnormal test results

Ann had an abnormal smear test when she was 24. She takes out a Plan4Life Cancer Cover policy at age 27 and then, six months later, goes for another regular smear test. This one is also abnormal and she is referred to the hospital for further investigation. Ann is diagnosed with cervical carcinoma in situ. Can she claim on her policy?

The diagnosis is related to the first abnormal test result. As there has not been a five year period prior to the diagnosis free of symptoms, treatment or advice, nothing is payable. Ann can still access the Plan4Life Cancer Cover GP helpline and counselling support service to gain further information about this form of cancer and her treatment.

A small lump on the skin

Alan developed a small abnormal lump on the skin of his left arm. He visited the doctor for advice. Alan’s doctor told him that it was probably a small skin cancer, but that it was not serious enough to warrant further tests or an operation. Can Alan claim?

No. There is no cash payable because the diagnosis of cancer has not been confirmed through histology tests.

Alan is advised to keep a careful eye on the lump, and six months later returns for another consultation. Alan has noticed some small changes to the area on his arm, so the doctor sends him to his local hospital where the lump is removed in a quick operation and sent for analysis (histopathology). The results confirm that the lump was a small skin cancer. Can Alan claim now?

Yes. As there has been a positive diagnosis of skin cancer Alan can claim; he has a level four plan, which means he can claim £250.

If Alan is unfortunate enough to have another cancer he can still claim under the policy but in respect of skin cancer, this is limited to a maximum of four times in the life of the policy.

Abnormal mammogram result

Julie has a mammogram as part of the national breast cancer screening programme, which reveals an abnormality. She has a biopsy of the suspicious area in case it is malignant breast cancer. The results show a diagnosis of lobular carcinoma in situ. Julie's specialist explains that this is not malignant breast cancer; no further treatment is needed and that the risk of the lobular carcinoma in situ causing any problems in the future is small. Can Julie claim on her Plan4Life Cancer Cover policy?

Yes. Julie can claim under the general carcinoma in situ category which is £250 under her level two plan.

Cancer and my family

Tina was in her late 30s when she was diagnosed with breast cancer.

A personal nurse adviser from the counselling support service telephoned Tina at home to discuss how she was coping, and to get some background about her condition. Tina had just been diagnosed with breast cancer and was going to have a mastectomy the following day, with breast reconstruction.

The first telephone conversation was a long one, and Tina was able to discuss how she was feeling about many issues.Tina was worried about her husband who does not like to talk about emotional subjects. She has two children and whilst Tina had told her older child, she did not want to worry the younger one.

The counselling support service supplied Tina with some useful information:
‘Mummy’s Lump’ - a book explaining things in simple terms for children and booklets that discussed talking with your children about breast cancer and post-operative care after breast cancer surgery.

Tina spoke to a specialist oncology nurse, Jenny, after her surgery. Jenny was able to provide a series of telephone support calls providing advice, information and support at different stages of Tina’s journey. Jenny was also able to explain the different treatments, discuss what Tina had been told by her consultant and offer reassurance.

Tina said: “Without Jenny’s phone calls and support, I may not have gone ahead with the radiotherapy - the prospect of it frightened me to death”

Tina also had the support of her personal nurse adviser for as long as she needed it. Both Tina and her husband found this support extremely helpful.

This case study is genuine and has been provided by a customer of the counselling support service. Names have been changed for reasons of confidentiality.

Someone to talk to

Mary lost her husband to cancer and was struggling to come to terms with his death and the events during his final hours.

Through the counselling support service, Mary was able to speak with a personal nurse adviser who allowed her to talk about her husband’s illness, his deterioration medically, and to express her sadness freely. Mary felt unable to talk to her family about how she was feeling, as she was trying to protect them.

The nurse gently discussed the feelings people can have in relation to bereavement; Mary began to understand that her feelings of despair, guilt, anger and sadness, although difficult, were normal. Mary felt some sense of relief that she could talk about them and reassured that her fears about ‘going mad’ were unfounded but not unusual.

The nurse and Mary identified that a course of bereavement counselling would be of benefit and it was quickly arranged. The nurse has continued to support Mary throughout her journey, especially at poignant and difficult times such as her wedding anniversary and her husband’s birthday. In many ways, Mary and her personal nurse adviser became friends.

Mary knows that physically she can never have her husband back, but she does feel supported and can see a way forward; she has developed ways of coping which help her through the darker days. She has learnt that she can still laugh as well as cry and there are people who will continue to support her however she is feeling. Mary expressed that she felt someone genuinely cared during a desperate time and that she was offered gentle strength and motivation.

This case study is genuine and has been provided by a customer of the counselling support service. Names have been changed for reasons of confidentiality.