The primary questions to be asked of a proposed insured that presents with this history are:
- What was the age at diagnosis and the date when treatment ended?
- What was the prostate cancer stage and/or grade?
- What was the Gleason score? (This is a tumor grading, based on how different from normal tissue the cells are.)
- How was the cancer treated?...and has there been any recurrence?
- What was the pre-op PSA reading?
- What is the current, or most recent, PSA reading?...and has there been good follow-up?
Underwriting decisions for prostate cancer are based on three things:
(1) the tumor grading,
(2) what the Gleason score and PSA were prior to surgery, and
(3) age and time since treatment ended. Diagnosis prior to age 50 or with a Gleason of 9 or greater will typically have a 5-year postponement period.
A lower stage/grade cancer and a Gleason of 2-6 often are available for offer as soon as treatment as been completed, typically in the Table 2-4 range (depending on the age). Standard offers are possible with low staging, usually at 5 years post prostatectomy, and 10 years if treated with radiation.