Prostate cancer, the fourth most common cancer worldwide, is often referred to as “a silent killer of men.” The name comes from the fact that it often shows no symptoms, especially in its early stage, and it exclusively affects men. Additionally, it has earned another nickname “snail of cancers” due to its slow but steady growth, which often surprises individuals when they learn that their condition has advanced without them knowing at all.

Although often wrongly perceived as a “low risk” cancer due to its indolent nature, prostate cancer accounts for a significant portion of insurance claims statistics. For instance, in the UK, it is one of the highest cancer diagnoses seen in Critical Illness (CI) insurance claims.

Given these factors, it is more important than ever for insurance professionals to have accurate and updated knowledge about this well-known yet often not well-understood cancer as well to understand its risk profile in the context of the insurance business.

This article serves as a valuable reference guide for life insurance underwriters and claims assessors, offering comprehensive and practical information and insights on this slow and silent killer. The topics covered include its diagnosis, symptoms, treatments, risk factors, life expectancy, recent trends and the latest innovations. It also explores its implications for the protection insurance business, encompassing areas such as underwriting, product development and claims. This information will be beneficial for a wide audience, including insurance underwriters, medical directors, claims administrators, and anyone interested in learning more about this critical but often overlooked cancer.