off work with breast cancer what can i claim help!!

cant.cope

Hi Carol.

Sadly i cant help with any info as been on here looking help myself.

Just wanted to send you my best wishes and i hope and pray you get a good outcome in the end. I know how hard cancer is to come to terms with and that money is the last thing you want to be thinking of. All the best for your opp

Thinking of you and your family

MrsA1939

Hi Carol
Just want to send my best wishes and hope the operation goes well,
I would definitely apply for DLA, I know a lady who was diagnosed with breast cancer
at the age of 29, had a mastectomy and she was able to receive it, also a 40 years old neighbour with bowel cancer was also able to get it.
So go for it

Best wishes to you and your family

Oldernotwiser

MrsA1939 wrote: »

Hi Carol
Just want to send my best wishes and hope the operation goes well,
I would definitely apply for DLA, I know a lady who was diagnosed with breast cancer
at the age of 29, had a mastectomy and she was able to receive it, also a 40 years old neighbour with bowel cancer was also able to get it.
So go for it

Best wishes to you and your family

I really don't see why someone having a mastectomy would need to claim DLA, unless there were some major complications with it; it doesn't take much more than a month to recover from an operation like this. I don't mean to sound unsympathetic but having breast cancer and the treatment for it shouldn't need to mean spending a long time on benefits.

I think that people on here are being far too pessimistic about the outcomes in this situation.

mariesuzi

i also wanted to add my best wishes to you,
i was also stage 3 4 years ago with cervical cancer, the nurse at the hospital filled my form in for dla and i was awarded high rate ,so please do, try or get someone to help with the forms,
and being positive helps so much
wishing you all the luck in the world ,
xxxx

ladylumps45

hi, im ot sure if its still the same ow as this was a couple of years ago but when my ssp stopped incapacity benefit started(esa now).i had to apply for incapacity benefit a little while before the ssp ran out and had paid enough national insurance to qualify.this may still be the case with the new esa if you are poorly for a long time.
i wish you all the best.x

Miró

Can I also suggest the BreastCancerCare website...in particular they have a leaflet re breastcancer & benefits available either by post or for download (ref BCC13)

http://www.breastcancercare.org.uk/server/show/nav.716/changeTemplate/PublicationDisplay/publicationId/22

They also have loads of other useful info, if you explore their main site, and a very good forum for help/info/moral support.

Wishing you all the very best.

MrsA1939

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

I really don't see why someone having a mastectomy would need to claim DLA, unless there were some major complications with it; it doesn't take much more than a month to recover from an operation like this. I don't mean to sound unsympathetic but having breast cancer and the treatment for it shouldn't need to mean spending a long time on benefits.

I think that people on here are being far too pessimistic about the outcomes in this situation.

It was not for me to question why she was in receipt of DLA high rate not sure what care rate she received, I do know however that she asked for a bust reduction on the remaining breast and whilst the procedure was being done another cancer was discovered which then led to another mastectomy,
Five years on and now in the clear she is still in receipt of the benefit

Oldernotwiser

MrsA1939 wrote: »

It was not for me to question why she was in receipt of DLA high rate not sure what care rate she received, I do know however that she asked for a bust reduction on the remaining breast and whilst the procedure was being done another cancer was discovered which then led to another mastectomy,
Five years on and now in the clear she is still in receipt of the benefit

Obviously it's not for you to question, but I don't think one should assume that DLA is normally available in these circumstances. I had a mastectomy and was back at work within two months and then had further breast surgery which needed other time off work. At no time did I have any care or mobility needs (or not for more than a week or so).

Perhaps I was lucky but successful treatment for cancer should leave someone able to lead a normal life, not with a permanent disability.

James123_2

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Obviously it's not for you to question, but I don't think one should assume that DLA is normally available in these circumstances. I had a mastectomy and was back at work within two months.

The goal of all cancer patients is to pick ourselves up and get on with our lives post-diagnsosis. However cancer doesn't always give us this option. I appreciate that breast cancer has some of the best survival rates available. However, there are very many other complications which can be as a result of any therapy in itself. I've had cancer for nearly two years which has spread to much of my body. However, it's the intensive chemotherapy which has left me with much of my own current difficulties. Nevertheless I do find a five-year award to be startling. This would not happen under current requirements as even terminal patients are reviewed every three years.

Oldernotwiser

James123 wrote: »

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Obviously it's not for you to question, but I don't think one should assume that DLA is normally available in these circumstances. I had a mastectomy and was back at work within two months.

The goal of all cancer patients is to pick ourselves up and get on with our lives post-diagnsosis. However cancer doesn't always give us this option. I appreciate that breast cancer has some of the best survival rates available. However, there are very many other complications which can be as a result of any therapy in itself. I've had cancer for nearly two years which has spread to much of my body. However, it's the intensive chemotherapy which has left me with much of my own current difficulties. Nevertheless I do find a five-year award to be startling. This would not happen under current requirements as even terminal patients are reviewed every three years.

I do appreciate that cancer treatment can be debilitating and that many people will need help for a long period. I just wanted to point out that a cancer diagnosis is no reason to automatically expect to be able to claim benefits and that it's any mobility or care needs that will decide this.