ACUTE LEUKEMIA & DISABILITY BENEFITS

WHAT IS LEUKEMIA?

Acute Leukemia is a form of cancer that starts in the bone marrow. Your bone marrow is where your blood cells are produced. Leukemia affects white blood cells, which are crucial to your immune system. Acute leukemia starts when a cell changes and becomes a leukemia cell. Because it no longer matures the way it should, the cell grows out of control. Often, it divides to make new cells faster than normal.

Leukemia cells also don’t die when they should. This allows them to build up in the bone marrow and crowd out normal cells. Then, the cancer causes large numbers of immature white blood cells to enter the blood stream. The cells can travel to your organs. Once inside the organ, the leukemia cells make it so the organ doesn’t work properly.

Because it is a cancer that often results in death, acute leukemia is on SSA’s special allowances list. Learn information about compassionate allowances.

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN TYPES OF LEUKEMIA

If the growth of the white blood cells involves the lymphoid line, then your disease is acute lymphocytic leukemia. Similarly, if the growth of the white blood cells involves the myeloid line, then you have acute myeloid leukemia.

Acute lymphocytic leukemia is the most common type of cancer in children. If you have this cancer as a child, then there is good chance for a cure. Acute lymphocytic leukemia can also occur in adults. However, if you are an adult with the disease, then the chance of a cure is far less.

DIAGNOSTIC TESTING FOR ACUTE LEUKEMIA

Your doctor finds acute leukemia by physical exam and history. Next, your doctor will perform a complete blood count. Also, your doctor may perform specific tests. These include a blood smear and bone marrow biopsy. Your doctor may also do an imaging test or a spinal fluid test. In the case of acute leukemia, bone marrow testing will tell you if you have the disease.

POSSIBLE TESTS FOR LEUKEMIA

• Blood tests. Blood tests may reveal too many or too few white blood cells. Likewise, a blood test may show not enough red blood cells and not enough platelets. A blood test can also show the presence of blast cells. These are the immature cells normally found in the bone marrow.
• Bone marrow test. During bone marrow biopsy, the doctor uses a needle to remove a sample of your bone marrow. The sample comes from your hipbone or breastbone. Next, the bone marrow sample is sent to a lab for testing to look for cancer cells. Doctors in the lab will group blood cells into specific types based on their size, shape, and other genetic markers. They will also look for changes in the cancer cells to determine whether the leukemia cells began from B or T lymphocytes. This information helps your doctor develop a treatment plan for your acute leukemia.
• Imaging tests. Doctors use imaging tests, like an X-ray, a CT scan, or an ultrasound scan, in order to help determine whether the cancer has spread to your brain, spinal cord, or other parts of your body.
• Spinal fluid test. Your doctor may also perform a lumbar puncture test or spinal tap. The spinal tap collects a sample of spinal fluid. Spinal fluid is the fluid around the brain and spinal cord. Next, the doctor tests the sample to see whether the cancer cells are in the spinal fluid.

PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS OF ACUTE LEUKEMIA

Early symptoms of acute leukemia may be hard to detect because they are similar to the flu. However, symptoms of leukemia can include fatigue, pale skin, infections, easy bruising, bone pain, and swollen lymph nodes. Cancer is usually confirmed through blood tests and a bone marrow biopsy. Other symptoms include:

• Fatigue;
• Fever;
• Dyspnea;
• Weight loss;
• Bone pain;
• Bleeding and clot problems;
• Swelling in the abdomen;
• Lumps or spots on the skin; and
• Enlarged lymph nodes.

Obviously, one of the main factors with cancer is fatigue. Fatigue can be due to cancer and can occur from treatment. You can’t work at any job if you are laying down for at least two hours a day.

THE THREE PHASES OF TREATMENT FOR ACUTE LEUKEMIA

Cancer doctors treat acute leukemia in three phases. Induction therapy is the first phase of treatment. The purpose of induction therapy is to kill the leukemia cells in the blood and bone marrow. If the cells die, then your cancer goes into remission.

Post-remission therapy is the second phase of treatment. It begins once the leukemia is in remission. The purpose of the second phase of treatment is to kill any remaining cancer cells that may not be active. However, those cells could cause a relapse. So the goal is to get rid of them.

The third phase of treatment is maintenance therapy. The goal of this phase is to prevent a relapse of the acute leukemia. Chemotherapy is the main treatment used during this phase. It involves the use of intense drugs in the spinal fluid. Additionally, your doctor may recommend high dose stem cell transplant. It is not unusual for those in this phase to develop severe infections and bleeding. If this happens, then you will need to stay in the hospital.

POSSIBLE TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR ACUTE LEUKEMIA

Treatments for acute leukemia may include:

• Chemotherapy. Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells. It is usually used as an induction therapy for children and adults with acute lymphocytic leukemia. The chemo drugs can also be used in the other phases of treatment.
• Targeted therapy. Targeted drug treatments focus on specific problems within cancer cells. Drug treatments can cause cancer cells to die. Your leukemia cells will be tested to see if this type of therapy will be helpful for you. Targeted therapy can be used alone or in combination with chemo.
• Radiation therapy. Radiation therapy uses high powered beams, such as X-rays or protons, to kill cancer cells. If your cancer cells spread to the central nervous system, then your doctor may recommend radiation therapy.
• Bone marrow transplant. A bone marrow transplant or stem cell transplant is an option for treatment if the disease comes back. This procedure allows someone with leukemia to have healthy bone marrow by replacing their bone marrow with some from a healthy person. A bone marrow transplant begins with high doses of chemo or radiation to destroy any leukemia producing bone marrow. The healthy donor then donates bone marrow to you.
• Immune cells to fight leukemia. A special treatment called chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy takes your body’s germ fighting T-cells and engineers them to fight cancer. These T-cells are infused back into your body.

RISK FACTORS FOR ACUTE LEUKEMIA

There are factors that may increase the risk of acute lymphocytic leukemia. These factors include:

• Previous cancer treatment. Children and adults who have had certain types of chemo and radiation for other kinds of cancer may have a higher risk of developing acute lymphocytic leukemia. If your child has leukemia along with low birth weight, then they may be able to get SSI benefits.
• Exposure to radiation. People exposed to very high levels of radiation, such as survivors of a nuclear reactor accident, have a higher risk of getting acute leukemia.
• Genetic conditions. Certain genetic conditions, such as Down syndrome, also come with a higher risk of acute lymphocytic leukemia.

ACUTE LEUKEMIA MEETS LISTING 13.06A AND 113.06A

13.06 Leukemia.

A. Acute leukemia (including T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma). Consider under a disability until at least 24 months from the date of diagnosis or relapse, or at least 12 months from the date of bone marrow or stem cell transplant, whichever is later. Thereafter, look at any impairments under the rules for the affected body system.

OR

B. Chronic myelogenous leukemia, as described in 1 or 2:

1. Accelerated or blast phase. Consider under a disability until at least 24 months from the date of diagnosis or relapse, or at least 12 months from the date of bone marrow or stem cell transplant, whichever is later. Thereafter, look at any impairments under the rules for the affected body system.

2. Chronic phase, as described in a or b:

a. Consider under a disability until at least 12 months from the date of bone marrow or stem cell transplantation. Thereafter, look at any impairments under the rules for the affected body system.

b. Progressive disease following initial anticancer therapy.

CHILDHOOD LISTING 113.06  FOR LEUKEMIA

113.06 Leukemia 

A. Acute leukemia (including all types of lymphoblastic lymphoma and juvenile chronic myelogenous leukemia (JCML). Consider under a disability until at least 24 months from the date of diagnosis or relapse, or at least 12 months from the date of bone marrow or stem cell transplantation, whichever is later. Thereafter, look at any residual impairments under the criteria for the affected body system.

OR

B. Chronic myelogenous leukemia (except JCML), as described in 1 or 2:

1. Accelerated or blast phase. Consider under a disability until at least 24 months from the date of diagnosis or relapse, or at least 12 months from the date of bone marrow or stem cell transplant, whichever is later. Thereafter, look at any residual conditions under the rules for the affected body system.

2. Chronic phase, as described in a or b:

a. Consider under a disability until at least 12 months from the date of bone marrow or stem cell transplant. Thereafter, look at any other medical conditions under the rules for the affected body system.

b. Progressive disease following initial anticancer therapy.

OTHER FORMS OF LEUKEMIA

There are other forms of Leukemia the SSA considers disabling. For specific examples you can review this list under Listing 13.06:

b. Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). The SSA need a diagnosis of CML based upon documented granulocytosis, including immature forms such as differentiated or undifferentiated myelocytes and myeloblasts, and a chromosomal analysis that demonstrates the Philadelphia chromosome. In the absence of a chromosomal analysis, or if the Philadelphia chromosome is not present, the diagnosis may be made by other methods consistent with the state of medical knowledge and practice. The requirement of CML in the accelerated or blast phase is met in 13.06B if lab findings show the proportion of blast cells in the peripheral blood or bone marrow is 10 percent or greater.

c. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

i. The SSA requires the diagnosis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) to be documented by evidence of a chronic lymphocytosis of at least 10,000/mm3 for 3 months or longer, or other acceptable diagnostic techniques consistent with the prevailing state of medical knowledge and clinical practice.

ii. They evaluate the complications and impairments from CLL under the appropriate listing, such as 13.05A2, or the hematological listings.

d. Elevated white cell count. In cases of chronic leukemia, an elevated white cell count, in itself, is not a factor in determining the severity of the condition.

3. Macroglobulinemia or heavy chain disease. The SSA requires the diagnosis of these diseases to be confirmed by protein electrophoresis or immunoelectrophoresis. They look at the resulting medical symptoms under the proper listing, such as listing 13.05A2 or the hematological listings.

WE CAN WIN YOUR SSD & SSI BENEFITS

Throughout your case, our attorneys and staff will help you collect your medical records. We will help you prove your acute leukemia meets SSA’s listing under step three of the review process. If you have another form of cancer, review information about multiple myeloma.

Medical records are crucial to winning your case. Learn about the importance of medical records. Once the evidence is complete, your case will be ready for a hearing. Your day in court is before a judge from the SSA.  And, you are the main witness.

Prior to your hearing, we will meet with you to review the judge’s questions. We will explain what kinds of questions the judge will ask. Also, we will also try to prepare you to answer those questions. You will be answering questions about your cancer symptoms. The point of the questions is to discuss how you would be able to work, both physically and mentally, for 40 hours a week.

For example, you will need to be able to talk about your ability to lift, sit, stand, and walk, throughout an eight hour work day. This is your residual functional capacity. You will also need to discuss whether your leukemia impacts your ability to concentrate and focus on work tasks. If you have acute leukemia, then you will also need to describe how your cancer treatment affects your ability to work.

HIRE US TO WIN YOUR SSD BENEFITS

If you have acute leukemia, a medical expert may testify at your hearing about whether you meet SSA’s listing for cancer. If you don’t hire an attorney, then there is a good chance you will not be able to question the medical expert or job expert at your hearing.

You also may not know what questions the judge will ask at your hearing. Similarly, you may not be ready to answer those questions in a way that will help your case. Therefore, it is likely you will not win your case at the hearing level. You want to win your case at the hearing because an appeal to the Appeals Council can take up to two years. Federal Court appeals can take even longer.

Don’t take that chance. Hire a lawyer in Las Vegas, Nevada and Salt Lake City, Utah with the experience you need to win your SSD case. Learn about Nevada SSD benefits. Also, review Utah SSDI and SSI benefits information. If you need a Social Security lawyer in Colorado, then we can also help you. Likewise, we represent clients for California SSDI benefits and Idaho SSD benefits.

WE ARE EXPERTS IN SSI & SSDI BENEFITS

In the last 30 years, we have won over 20,000 SSDI and SSI cases for our clients. Additionally, we have won over $100 million in ongoing and past due SSDI and SSI  benefits for our clients.

We have seen the Social Security Administration change their rules. Over time, it has become more difficult to win Social Security cases, even if you have acute leukemia. It is also hard to obtain the medical evidence you need to prove you meet SSA’s listing. Find out what you need from your doctor in order to win benefits. Additionally, it can be difficult to complete SSA’s forms on your own.

If you have any type of cancer, then you know you are not going to be able to work for more than 12 months. Therefore, you need to apply for SSD benefits. You need to do so right away. Don’t wait. Apply for benefits even if you think you might go back to work. If you do go back to work, then you can always tell the SSA you no longer need to pursue your application.

Meanwhile, if you don’t go back to work, then you have started the application process. Begin now. Because it can take up to two years to go through the five step SSA review process. SSDI benefits and SSI benefits are available to you if you start an application on Social Security’s website.

HIRE OUR LAW FIRM WITH NO MONEY UPFRONT

We will use our skills to help you through the appeals process. It is our goal to win your case. But, it also our goal to make it easier for you. We offer a free review of your case. There is no pressure to become a client. If you call, then you can simply ask questions. Also, if we can’t help you, then we will refer you to someone who can.

It also doesn’t cost you any upfront money to hire us. Why? Because you only pay us an attorney fee if we win your case. This means if we win your case, then you pay us out of your past due benefits. If you do not win, then you do not pay an attorney fee.

How much is the fee? It is 25% of your back benefit. Also, the fee has a cap of $9200. However, even if the cap goes up, you do not pay more than the cap. And, 25% is usually less than the cap. You will pay the lesser amount.

If there are costs in your case, then you pay those costs. But the costs are usually less than $100. Usually the only cost is to pay for a copy of your medical records. You owe costs whether we win or lose. Again, attorney fees are paid from your back benefit. But, to hire most lawyers, you have to pay upfront. We don’t work like that. You don’t have a job. So how can you pay? The only way for you to pay us is for us to win your case. So, that is our goal. Contact us for help with your acute leukemia case.

LEARN ABOUT YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY LEGAL TEAM

Our law firm brings over 60 years of legal experience to fight for you. For instance, Dianna Cannon has been helping her clients win benefits since 1992. Brett Bunkall and Andria Summers also have many years of legal experience. Together, we have won over 20,000 SSD cases. You can learn about our lawyers and staff on our About Us page.

If you or your child have acute leukemia, then contact us. We will help file your SSDI and SSI applications. Also, we will make sure the SSA uses their special rules when the look at your case. This will make your claim move faster. You can trust we will do everything in our power to win your SSDI and SSI benefits for acute leukemia.

When you hire an attorney, choose one who has decades of experience and a stellar record. You want the best SSD law firm to help you. Find a firm who understands the system. You need to win benefits. In order to win, you should choose a lawyer who is an expert in Social Security law. Choose our law firm to help you win SSDI and SSI benefits for leukemia. Contact us now.