In the not too distant past, cancer was seen as a total mystery. Today, however, research has helped shine a light on its causes, and evolving screening and treatment options provide further hope for understanding and battling this terrible disease. Moreover, genetic testing can be a helpful predictor of whether certain cancers are likely to occur. 

Yet, as diagnosis and treatment options evolve, something else is changing: the cancer itself. "Cancer cells are smart," says Dr. Pamela Crilley, chair of the Department of Medical Oncology at Cancer Treatment Centers of America. "They can become resistant to certain treatments. They can also lie dormant for long periods of time and come back later." 

In addition to changes in the way this disease behaves — as well as the methods to treat it — another change is happening: Cancer insurance is evolving to help meet the needs of modern-day patients and their families.