If you have developed cancer, your life may be affected by permanent restrictions that may restrict your ability to work. There are many different kinds of cancer but there are some such as liver, pancreatic, liver, thyroid, mesothelioma, and esophageal cancers that are life threatening so your life is likely to suffer permanent impairment as the disease progresses.
There are other more treatable cancers that may return you to normal life once treatment has been completed. Risk factors which may contribute to a diagnosis of osteoporosis include the following:
- advancing age;
- gender;
- smoking;
- family history;
- low vitamin D levels;
- low calcium intake;
- low body weight;
- excessive alcohol consumption;
- low levels of physical activity;
- long-term corticosteroid use;
- a reduction in estrogen level.
Permanent Restrictions You May Experience
The pain experienced from life threatening cancers is likely to progress over time but even the more treatable cancers which require chemotherapy or radiation treatment can lead to long-term or even permanent impairments such as the following:
- reproductive disorders;
- lung disease;
- lung disease;
- liver problems;
- intestinal problems;
- hypothyroidism;
- heart problems;
- eye problems;
- cognitive dysfunction;
- cataracts;
- bone weakness.
To reduce the risk of permanent impairment from cancer you should eat the right types of foods during and after cancer treatment that will help you feel better and remain stronger. You will also benefit from engaging in physical activity rather than simply resting.
Work History and Job Skills
If the cancer is so severe you are not able to work you will need to apply for disability benefits. There are two types of benefits. One is called social security disability benefits (SSDI) which is based on your work history and how many work credits you have accumulated over time while the second is called supplemental security income (SSI) which is means tested and is awarded based on savings and assets.
If your cancer treatment has been effective the disability benefit decisions will be based on your medical records and your work history. The disability examiner will use this information to determine if you are able to return to your usual job or if you have a permanent impairment use the skills used in previous jobs to take up work. The disability examiner’s job is to get you to do some work.
Can I Perform Sedentary Work?
Sometimes the decision for eligibility for social security disability benefits is based on the claimant’s ability to work in a more sedentary job. If the disability examiner denies your claim because it believes you can do a more sedentary job but you still want to pursue your claim for disability benefits due to a permanent impairment you will need to request an appeal hearing.
At this hearing you will be required to provide the evidence to prove that the symptoms from your cancer will not allow you to take on sedentary work. Your disability claim could still be denied if a vocational expert brought to the hearing agrees that, although you are not fit enough to do your usual job there is other work you are still able to do despite your claim of permanent impairment caused by the cancer.
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To help you obtain your SSDI or SSI entitlements you should ask for help from a disability lawyer who may work on your behalf to get the benefits you are eligible to receive for the permanent impairment caused by cancer.
