While it may seem oxymoronic to use the term “benefits” in conjunction with a cancer diagnosis, the fact is that there are going to be some options that open to the cancer patient and ways to take advantage of them which might not be immediately obvious. And the best way to maximize these benefits, of course, begins with an early diagnosis. Just like everything cancer related, the earlier the diagnosis the better, though no matter how late the diagnosis comes it will always be better than an even later one.
Because cancers tend to move at varied rates, it is important to know whether a cancer is of the slow and steady variety or if it particularly aggressive. The options available for an aggressive cancer are naturally slimmer, largely because that cancer needs to be attacked right away. But this can, in its own way, be liberating. When our set of choices is reduced to the bare minimum, it frees us up to focus on other things. There is somehow, amazingly, less to worry about. I do A or B, it works or it doesn’t. There is no waiting or wasting time, just getting into action and rolling with it.
And focusing, then, on what really matters.
In the case of a slow and steady cancer, the benefits are more complicated because there are a lot more options. Often there are a range of treatments that could be used, or a combination of them that might work best… Individuals may wish to try something other than their doctors suggest, and sometimes this might be a viable choice if they have also received a legitimate second or third opinion to support it. (Note: no one should forgo proper medical consultation when it comes to cancer. Any “alternative” therapies should be done only with the supervision of an actual, board certified oncologist.)
One of the best things an early diagnosis of a slow moving cancer provides, however, is the time to research clinical trials. Advances in cancer research are happening at the fastest rate in history right now. Many new and promising therapies are currently undergoing human trials, which may offer alternatives over the currently available therapies.
State and Federal Disability
Time off from work, focus on family, reconnecting with friends: these are essential healing elements that may prove elusive to some cancer patients without some conscientious work. Fortunately, for some patients who have been actively employed for an extended period, there is assistance from the state or federal government that can allow for either a short or long-term “break” from the rat race. But getting that aid sometimes requires a bit of help, so don’t be afraid (or just too timid) to ask.
To get started, check with your company’s Human Resources office, where there should be information on state programs. These are generally administered through the same government program that handles unemployment, and will require that the patient has been employed for the past several years or so. State programs tend to be focused on short-term benefits, with the implication that the patient will be going back to work, though there may be some particulars that need to be figured out with regard to any state’s individual program. Fortunately, most hospitals and clinics also have access to social services personnel of some sort who will help guide the patient through the process.
Beyond the state benefits, the Social Security Administration also offers long-term disability benefits. These are geared toward conditions which may require a year or more of assistance or those which are considered incurable, which does include many types of cancers. Take heart, however, because something that is incurable today may well have a cure within the next few years, or certainly improved treatments that will allow a patient to overcome the cancer’s progression.
Turn that Umbrella Upside Down
This isn’t really about looking for mythical silver linings, however. While there are “benefit” programs out there to take advantage of, and these are often highly important components of the healing process that are too easily overlooked, there are other, possibly less tangible but equally essential benefits to a cancer diagnosis that are lurking about. For me, the greatest benefit could be the refocusing of my priorities.
When I received my diagnosis, it made me take stock of my life, as I am sure it does with most patients. I had to really think about what is important, what I care about in life, why I care and what I still plan to do about it. These are essential questions that we all should be asking ourselves anyway, but sometimes we need a nudge to reconsider them.
Maximizing that benefit, the primal realization of what we are doing here, is a gift.