- I'm looking at a form that my Mortgage company sent
me. It is for mortgage protection in event of death,
disability, unemployment, etc. One of the questions
is:
Have you ever had cancer?....
I'm not sure how to answer this. I had a grade II (at that time it was a scale I - IV) ependymoma. It was benign. I know there has been much debate over this in the group. But I'm still at a loss of how to answer this.
Need your input.
Thanks
Imrran W
Unless the biopsy of your tumor showed cancer (you say it was benign), then no, you didn't have cancer. Histologically (on the cellular level) ependymomas are not cancer. They are known to behave like cancer, moving throughout the CNS structures, and rarely beyond. Of course this is to the best of my knowlege and there has been much discussion on the list on this very topic.
This may be useful:
"http://www.cancerhelp.org.uk/help/default.asp?page=94"
"http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/c/cancer/intro.htm"
If you are unsure, you could always call your doctor and ask.
Lisa G
I think it is disadvantageous to the insurance or mortgage company to have someone with a prior tumor as a client. However, life's a draw, and if it's to the best of current medical knowledge that the tumor is benign and NOT cancer, then let's not call it cancer!
In my case, we pushed with my health insurance to call it "cancer" (prior to biopsy) because it allowed me access to an expensive pain medication that I was not allergic to. There were further complexities involved.
My ependymoma also had no grading (done at USC), but was not considered cancer.
Lisa G
Oh my gosh, and what a situation this could become. Yes, we remember the debate from the group over this question. I take it you are trying to apply for additional insurance in the event of your death, disability, etc.
For what it's worth I phoned our son who is an insurance agent and asked this question. He stated that more than likely the company is also asking if you had a tumor, cancer, are a diabetic, etc. He also stated you are at high risk and probably not a good candidate for the extra mortgage protection. If you are still being treated for your tumor, then most likely would not be a candidate. If you had a tumor, etc. within the last five to ten years, then most likely not a candidate.
Sorry to break the news to you. He also suggested you contact your life insurance agent to see what their options are as well.
If by a slim chance you did qualify, I think your payments would be sky high.
mary, wife of john-resected subependymoma 12/02-shunt 02/03