Many people in Missouri have been touched by cancer in some way. For example, they may have a friend or loved one who had cancer, or they may even be a cancer sufferer themselves. When it comes to cancers affecting women, breast cancer awareness has gotten a lot of attention. However, there are other cancers affecting women that people should also be aware of.
Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month is September, and it serves as a means to educate the public about gynecologic cancers such as ovarian cancer. One ovarian cancer survivor encourages women to listen to their bodies as there are symptoms that can point to ovarian cancer. And, ovarian cancer, like other cancers, is more treatable the earlier it is detected.
However, those with ovarian cancer must face the fact that they have a very serious disease. A woman with ovarian cancer can be sick enough that they are unable to work for a very long time. And, unfortunately, some women will never recover from ovarian cancer. In situations like these, a woman with ovarian cancer may want to seek Social Security disability benefits for illness.
Ovarian cancer is included in the Social Security Administration’s Listing of Impairments. This is a list of impairments that the SSA considers disabling medical conditions. This list outlines what the requirements are for being deemed disabled under the specified medical condition.
For example, when it comes to ovarian cancer one of the following elements must be met. First, for non-germ-cell cancers, one of the following requirements must be met: the cancer must extend beyond the pelvis, the cancer must have metastasized to or beyond the regional lymph nodes or the cancer must be recurrent despite anticancer therapy. Or, if it is germ-cell cancer, the cancer must be progressing or recurring despite anticancer therapy. Or, the cancer must be a small-cell carcinoma.
As this shows, ovarian cancer is a serious disease that can be disabling. When a woman with ovarian cancer finds their disease has rendered them unable to work or is projected to be fatal, she may want to pursue an SSD claim. If approved for SSD benefits, the cancer sufferer can cope financially during what is a very difficult time.