According to WHO, Breast cancer is one of the most diagnosed cancers in recent years. It is estimated that 1 out of 10 women has breast cancer once in their lifetime in the U.S. Due to the increased cancer diagnosis rate, advancements in cancer treatment and survival rates are improving. If you have been diagnosed with breast cancer, you can file for LTD as it is one of the medical conditions that qualify for LTD. Read on to learn more about the illness.
What is breast cancer?
Breast cancer occurs when some breast cells start to grow rapidly and in an unusual way. It is a type of cancer that can start in one or more breasts. Breast cancer can occur in both men and women. But it is mainly found in women and rarely in men.
Here are a few types of breast cancer.
- Invasive lobular carcinoma
- Invasive ductal carcinoma
- Paget’s disease of the breast
- Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS)
- Triple-negative breast cancer
- Inflammatory breast cancer
Symptoms and Diagnosis
Some symptoms of breast cancer are:
- Breast pain
- A lump that feels unusual
- Change is the size, the appearance, or shape of breasts
- Lump in the underarm area
- Nipple pulled-in, white or bloody discharge from nipples, and nipple pain
For Diagnosis, a doctor can conduct a manual breast examination, MRI, mammogram x-ray of the breasts, or an ultrasound.
In addition, you may undergo a biopsy so that cells that are potentially cancerous can be examined in a lab. Other tests to determine the stage of your cancer may include blood tests, x-rays, or CT scans.
Treatment
Treatment for breast cancer depends upon the stage of cancer. Some treatments include:
- Chemotherapy
- Mastectomy
- Lumpectomy
- Radiation therapy
- Lymph node removal
- Hormone therapy
How does it affect your ability to work?
Mainly, breast cancer treatments cause disabling side effects. Breast cancer alone may not cause disabling symptoms, especially at an early stage, but treatments can cause side effects that may make it difficult to work.
If the treatment is prolonged, chemotherapy and radiation therapy cause muscle aches, fatigue, headaches, loss of appetite, and nausea that interferes with the ability to work. In the process of killing the cancerous cells, the treatment weakens the body and affects a person’s cognitive and physical abilities.
Cancer and its treatment are life-altering and can take a toll on a patient’s mental health. The patient also has mood swings, anxiety, and depression with the physical hurdles.
All these symptoms can be shown as evidence in a long-term disability claim.
