SMALL INTESTINE CANCER & SSD
WHAT IS CANCER OF THE SMALL INTESTINE?
Small intestine cancer qualifies for SSD benefits if it prevents you from working for over 12 months. This article will discuss cancer of the small intestine. The small intestine is responsible for absorbing nutrients from the food we consume. It is located between the stomach and the large intestine and is has three sections: the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum.
The main function of the small intestine is to absorb nutrients from the partially digested food that enters it from the stomach. Enzymes from the pancreas and bile from the liver aid in breaking down proteins, fats, and carbohydrates into smaller molecules. These smaller molecules, such as amino acids, fatty acids, and simple sugars, are then absorbed through the walls of the small intestine.
The small intestine also plays a role in absorbing water from the undigested food residue, helping to solidify the remaining material as it moves towards the large intestine. This ensures that the body absorbs water and maintains proper hydration.
The small intestine plays such an important role in your body, that cancer symptoms can prevent you from working. Small intestine cancer is not a single entity but rather a collection of different types. The most common type is adenocarcinoma, while other rare forms include carcinoid tumors, gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs), and lymphomas.
CAUSES OF SMALL INTESTINE CANCER
There are many factors which can cause small intestine cancer. For example, it is most commonly diagnosed in older adults. Also, there may often be a genetic predisposition to getting small intestine cancer. If someone in your family has this type of cancer, then you are likely to have a higher chancer of getting it.
Over time, chronic inflammatory conditions, such as Crohn’s disease or celiac disease, may increase the risk of developing small intestine cancer. Also, previous exposure to radiation, either through medical treatments or exposure to radiation at work, is another risk factor for small intestine cancer.
Of course, there are also factors that you have control over which can cause cancer of the small intestine. For example, smoking is associated with an increased risk of small intestine adenocarcinoma. Also, a diet high in red meat, low in fiber, and low in fruits and vegetables can contribute to an increased risk of small intestine cancer. Likewise, having abdominal surgery, like a gastric bypass, can also create a greater risk for cancer of the small intestine.
If you have any of the above risk factors, then it is important to consult your doctor for advice and to obtain the correct tests. Early detection and treatment can improve the outcomes of small intestine cancer.
SYMPTOMS OF SMALL INTESTINE CANCER
If you have any of the following symptoms, it is important to visit the doctor. Even if the symptoms end up being an infection, you should still get treatment right away. Here is a list of common symptoms that you may have if you have cancer of the small intestine:
- Abdominal Pain: Persistent or crampy abdominal pain, especially in the middle or lower abdomen, may be a symptom of small intestine cancer.
- Changes in bowel habits: Changes in bowel movements, such as chronic diarrhea or constipation, may occur.
- Blood in the Stool: The presence of blood in the stool or black, tarry stools may indicate bleeding within the digestive tract.
- Anemia: Small intestine cancer may lead to anemia, which can cause fatigue, weakness, and pale skin.
- Feeling of a lump or mass: A lump or mass in the abdomen may signal the presence of a tumor.
- Obstruction: Advanced cases of small intestine cancer may lead to intestinal blockages, causing symptoms such as severe abdominal pain, bloating, and vomiting.
- Weight loss : As with many types of cancer, this form of cancer can cause weight loss and fatigue. These symptoms may be worse in advanced stages of the disease.
TREATMENT FOR SMALL INTESTINE CANCER
The treatment for cancer of the small intestine, depends the stage of your cancer, the location of the tumor, and your overall health. Your team of doctors will develop your treatment plan. The doctors on your team may include surgeons, radiation doctors, and other cancer experts. Here are some common treatment options for this form of cancer:
SURGERY
Surgery is a common treatment for cancer of the small intestine. It removes tumors along with nearby lymph nodes and tissues. Tumor removal is the surgery that is done when the cancer is caught at an early stage.
CHEMOTHERAPY
Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells or slow down their growth. For example, people undergo chemotherapy prior to surgery to shrink the tumor. Also, they undergo chemo after surgery to destroy any remaining cancer cells. Sometimes, it is the primary treatment for advanced cancer cases. Chemotherapy may be used in combination with other treatments.
RADIATION THERAPY
Radiation therapy uses high energy beams to target and destroy cancer cells. The most common type of radiation is called external beam radiation therapy, which is radiation from a machine outside the body. If you have internal radiation therapy, then your radiation uses implants. Radiation shrinks tumors prior to surgery. Also, radiation kills any remaining cancer cells after surgery. In some cases, doctors use radiation to relieve symptoms in advanced stages of the disease.
Unfortunately, there are side effects from radiation. The side effects can include fatigue, skin reactions, upset stomach, and urinary symptoms. You may also experience loose bowel movements and pain when having a bowel movement. Scar tissue can also form from the damage to anal tissue. Also, scar tissue can interfere with bowel function. Most side effects go away soon after treatment is complete.
IMMUNOTHERAPY
Immunotherapy uses the body’s immune system to fight cancer. Certain drugs may be used in some cases of advanced cancer of the small intestine to help the immune system recognize and attack cancer cells.
PALLIATIVE CARE
Palliative care focuses on giving relief from symptoms. It also improves the quality of life for those with advanced small intestine cancer. This type of care focuses on helping you with your physical and mental health. You will want this type of support when you experience the changes with your body after dealing with cancer.
WHEN RECOVERY IS NOT POSSIBLE
People who have advanced cancer of the small intestine that has spread to another organ in their body, may have less than 6 months to live. Therefore, they may want to consider hospice care. Hospice care provides the best possible quality of life for people who are near the end of life.
You and your family should talk with your health care team about hospice care options. For example, this includes hospice care at home, a special hospice center, or other health care locations. Nursing care and special equipment can make staying at home a good option for many families.
LISTING FOR 13.17 SMALL INTESTINE CANCER
SSA listing 13.17 is for cancer of the small intestine. In order to win SSD and SSI benefits, you must meet the listing, which means that you must have the medical records that prove you have every element under the listing. Below, please find the listing:
13.17 Small intestine –carcinoma, sarcoma, or carcinoid.
A. Inoperable, unresectable, or recurrent.
OR
B. With metastases beyond the regional lymph nodes.
OR
C. Small-cell (oat cell) carcinoma
SMALL INTESTINE CANCER QUALIFIES AS A COMPASSIONATE ALLOWANCE
The SSA lists small intestine cancer with distant metastases as a compassionate allowance. The compassionate allowance program allows for quick processing of disability claims for people with severe medical conditions. The goal is to ensure that those with severe or a fatal disease receive financial support quickly.
When small intestine cancer with distant metastases is inoperable or is unresectable, then the SSA will treat is as a compassionate allowance. To qualify you will need to submit a pathology report or an operative report. You can also submit the opinion of your doctor that your cancer is cannot be removed.
Small intestine cancer forms in tissues of the small intestine. Most of the tumors occur in the part of the small intestine near the stomach. They may grow and block the bowel. The overall five year survival rate for resectable adenocarcinoma is only 20%.
Therefore, if you believe you qualify under this program and you have not heard from the SSA, then you should hire an attorney to make your argument to the SSA. An attorney can press the SSA to apply their rules and grant your benefits quickly.
FILE FOR SSD BENEFITS FOR SMALL INTESTINE CANCER
If you have small intestine cancer, then there are two types of benefits you can file for under the Social Security program: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. In order to receive benefits, you must first file an application. You can do this online at Social Security’s website. Below, you will find an explanation as to each type of benefit you can file for if you have cancer:
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI):
SSDI benefits are for those who have worked in the recent past and can no longer work at any job due to a medical condition. The amount of money you will receive from SSDI benefits every month is based on how much Social Security tax you have paid during your work history.
To qualify for SSDI, you must have earned enough “work credits” to qualify. A work credit is an amount of taxable income. You can earn up to 4 work credits per year. The amount of work credits you will need will depend on how old you are when you apply. If you haven’t earned enough work credits for your age at the time you apply, you will only qualify for Supplemental Security Income benefits.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI):
SSI is a needs based program. SSI provides financial support to disabled individuals who have limited income and resources, regardless of their work history. This program is often more accessible for children and their families. Eligibility criteria include: 1) Having a severe disability that keeps you from working for over one year. 2) Your income and resources must fall below certain limits. Learn about the rules for SSI benefits.
HIRE AN ATTORNEY TO HELP YOU WIN BENEFITS FOR SMALL INTESTINE CANCER
Unfortunately, if you do not hire an attorney to help you, you will probably not win benefits. Most cases turn on the VE’s testimony at the hearing. If you are not capable of questioning the VE, then you will not win. The judge relies on the VE’s testimony. So, you need to be able to prove, using VE testimony, that you cannot work. An attorney can make sure that all of your symptoms are taken into account in the VE’s testimony.
Also, the attorney who has experience is familiar with the jobs in the national economy. If the attorney has experience, then they also know what jobs the VE is going to say you can do. This part of the hearing is difficult. Trying to do it yourself will not work. If nothing else, you should hire an attorney to represent you if the Judge has called a VE to your hearing.
SUBMIT ALL OF YOUR MEDICAL RECORDS
Prior to your hearing, you can review the resume of the medical expert. If an ME is going to testify at your hearing, then they must submit a resume to the court. Your attorney can review the resume of the medical expert. They can also object to the appearance of the ME. Remember, at the hearing, the burden to prove that you deserve benefits is on you.
There are firm time lines in which you must submit your medical records. The SSA rule states that all medical records must be sent to the judge five days prior to your hearing. This means five “working” days. In other words, you must submit all medical records SEVEN days prior to a hearing. If you submit evidence past the seven days, then you must have a good reason as to why you did not submit the records on time. Learn about SSA’s evidence rules at the hearing.
Remember, everything must be in the SSA record one week prior to the hearing. There are good reasons for this rule. The SSA is dealing with thousands of hearings across the nation. It helps the SSA to have the evidence so the judge and experts can review it. The bottom line is this: one week prior to the hearing is the final date for you to submit all of your medical records. You need to do this even if you have lung cancer or breast cancer. If you have an attorney to help you do this, then it will help you win your case.
WHAT WE DO TO HELP YOU WIN SSDI AND SSI BENEFITS
If you have cancer of the small intestine, then you need help to apply for Social Security benefits. You can always call our law firm and we will help you. We can help you file your application. Also, we can help you appeal every SSA denial. For example, our attorneys and staff can:
- Send you the paperwork you need to become our client
- Help you file your application for SSDI and SSI benefits
- Inform the SSA they should pay your benefits under the Compassionate Allowance Rules
- Appeal if you receive an initial denial
- Help you confirm your SSA doctor exam
- Request a Hearing with an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ)
- Prepare you to testify at your ALJ hearing
- Represent you at your hearing and question the witnesses
- Read about job expert testimony
- Learn about medical expert testimony
- Request review of an SSA decision with the Appeals Council
- Request review of an Appeals Council denial in Federal Court
If you file your application for benefits online at Social Security’s website, then you have 6 months to complete it. Once you submit your application online, the SSA sends you an application summary in the mail. You must sign the summary and mail it back. If you don’t send it back, the SSA will not process your application. Sign it and send it back as soon as you can.
HIRE US FOR OUR YEARS OF LEGAL EXPERIENCE
If you have cancer of the small intestine, then you need to hire a law firm with experience to win your benefits. We are one of the best Social Security law firms in the country. We are the best Social Security benefits firm in Las Vegas, Nevada. Also, we are also the best Social Security law firm in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Learn about Utah SSD benefits. Find Nevada SSI Information. We also represent clients in Idaho and you can learn about Idaho disability benefits. Find out about Colorado SSDI benefits. Likewise, if you are from California, then learn about California SSDI & SSI information.
Over the last 30 years, we have won thousands of SSDI and SSI claims. Additionally, we have won over $100 million in SSD and SSI benefits for our clients. It has become more difficult to win Social Security cases. Also, SSA’s listing rules are harder to meet. That is why you need an attorney who will help you win your case.
We recommend you do not go to your hearing without an attorney. Why? Because a lawyer can prepare you for your hearing. She can explain the judge’s questions. Preparation will help you win your case.
Those who go to the hearing without a lawyer are usually not successful in winning benefits. You should hire an attorney who has legal experience winning SSDI and SSI benefits. Contact Cannon Disability Law. We can help you win Social Security benefits for small intestine cancer. Call us today for a free review of your benefits.
