Breast cancer is still the most common type of cancer affecting Vitality's female policyholders, according to the latest data from the health insurance provider.
In its 2023 health claims for cancer, Vitality highlighted the most common cancers its male and female members claimed for last year. Of all the women's claims, 49 per cent were for breast cancer - exactly the same percentage as in 2022 across all ages.
While it was the most common cancer claim for women aged 30 and above, this was followed by skin cancer (21 per cent), and bowel cancer (6 per cent).
This compared with 2022's data, where for all ages, breast cancer claims were followed by skin (20 per cent) and bowel (again, at 6 per cent).
For women under 30, skin cancer was the most common cancer at 26 per cent of claims, followed by lymphoma, at 18 per cent.
The most common cancers affecting men on the other hand were prostate (28 per cent) and skin (28 per cent).
Vitality said: "Prostate cancer was particularly prevalent for men over 60, making up 75 per cent of their cancer claims. However, for those under 30 the most common cancers were haematological (25 per cent), skin (23 per cent) and lymphoma (at 21 per cent).
However, Vitality has said that its cancer support programme, which it launched in 2022, has shown positive wellbeing effects on users.
The programme sees members undergoing chemotherapy benefit from specialist-dedicated case management and tailored lifestyle coaching, helping them to manage treatment side effects, nutrition and rehabilitation through an app.
The data showed Vitality members who enrolled on the programme between 2023 and 2024 recorded a 30 per cent higher activity level measured through step count, alongside a 32 per cent reduction in reported levels of stress and anxiety and a 12 per cent improvement in quality of life.
Keith Klintworth, managing director of Vitality Health, said: “Receiving a cancer diagnosis can be absolutely devastating, but also having the right kind of clinical treatment and care in place is invaluable."
He added it was also important to take "a holistic view following diagnosis, to ensure the person has the right physical and mental health support in place for them".
Earlier this year, Legal & General issued a breakdown of its 150,000 interactions with preventative services, which help employees manage their wellbeing.
Among the employees it covers with group income protection products, the provider found similar claims patterns to Vitality.
For example, L&G found that cancer represented the most common reason for making a claim, accounting for over a quarter of all new claims. The average GIP claim paid was £21,843 with the average age of a claimant being 42.
