[Facts are stubborn things, but statistics are pliable]

Thank you for sharing, I’m happy to say that I have never fit and use the statistics for lung cancer and have never really tried to focus on them. I am now at 7 1/2 with Stage IV and despite starting out with a very grim prognosis I am doing well and have now been off treatment for almost 6 years. I do remember looking briefly at the statistics when I was first diagnosed and it was depressing and overwhelming so from that point on I was determined to beat them !  🤍

[LexieCat, Esquire Rests Her Case]

Tom,

  This is very endearing and so well written !  ❤️  Thanks for sharing with us all!   May Teri now forever be free and at peace!  

[Eighteen Years but No Toes]

Congratulations on such a wonderful milestone!  18 years as a Stage IV Lung Cancer Survivor is fantastic!  Something we all HOPE and want for all!  May you have many more years and hope you are safe and warm.   Snow and Freezing Rain here too and after last week's blizzard I'm sick of winter!!  

 

[Scanziety Builds Character]

On 9/22/2021 at 11:56 AM, LexieCat said:

LOL, no matter what ever crappy thing happened to me, my mom's go-to response was: "It builds character."

Yeah, ticked me off no end. 

   I feel the same!  I'm not sure I'll ever be convinced that having Scanxiety is character building...so me it's stress building...PERIOD!  

[The Roscopal Effect]

Ro,

  I am so happy that this worked well for you and also HOPE it will continue.   I first learned about the abscopal effect when I was on Immunotherapy which I had just after radiation (after progression) and there were studies that also showed that it can happen when you do Immunotherapy right after or in conjunction with radiation.  Not sure if that is WHY I had such a good result, but I did and I am so thankful to my Oncologist for being such a great researcher!   I truly believe she saved my life!  

     Lisa

PS:  Very creative to call this the Roscopal effect!  💜

[Social Security Disability by Disapproval]

There can be a lot of confusion regarding the two programs offered by Social Security for those who become disabled.

SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) is for those who worked and paid into the system and then become disabled and meet the SS's criteria to be considered disabled.  Generally, you need to be considered unable to work for a least one year.   IN my case my Disability date was the last day I worked.  I was approved in about 2 months, but needed to wait for the sixth month to start receiving my monthly benefit.   My understanding is that Stage IV Lung Cancer is approved quickly, but again, you'll still have to meet your waiting period before benefits start.    

 SSI  (Social Security Income) is also a program for the disabled and provides additional funds for those who have very limited assets and income.  In most cases if you are married and have a working spouse, you would be denied, because they look at "family income".   The asset level is very low, under $3,000 and that is also based on family assets.    It's basically for those at poverty level.   If however you are eligible there is not waiting period, so you'll start benefits much sooner.   In many States this also makes the recipients eligible for Medicaid (low income insurance programs that each State offers).     Check the rules for your State to see what you may be eligible for.  

I always share this link https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/disability/ to the SS website, which has many more details.  You can apply online and/or call your local SS office for more specifics, especially now with Covid, as I would assume many of the offices may not be staffed.   

Good Luck!

 

[Covid and me]

Thank you Deb!  ❤️

 

[Covid and me]

Two are my round trip to Hope Summit 💜 !

[10 Steps to Surviving Lung Cancer from a Survivor]

Great Info Tom !  Thanks for posting, I'm going to Bookmark this for future use and to share with other Newbies!   This is the type of information I WISH I had known back and the time of my diagnosis.