"They don:t have an income policy in place"---is "they"your existing or new proposed employer?. My experience a number of years back taught me that insurers do not view cancer survivors as potential clients and that in the unlikely case of acceptance the premiums would far outweigh the benefits. You are now viewed as a sole individual risk as opposed to being a member of a group risk.

l found l had to re-evaluate my options and make some decisions regarding employment,in my case rather than moving for further advancement it was better to stick with my then current employers benefits package where rejection was not an issue. l took what could be perceived as a negative and turned it into a positive by radically changing my role within the employment, using the challenge of beating off a stage 4 cancer diagnosis with the changed mindset and determination that goes with that to show l had untapped potential to bring to the business.Eventually l set up my own business and was then able to build a nest egg ofsavings and mixed assets

In short you are now in the position of having to find and fund your own future security but your focus should have broadened and sharpened through your experience ,exploit that to its maximum and it could surprise you where it could take you in your future