Social Security offers disability benefits to many people in Maryland who have been diagnosed with cancer. The agency states that eligibility is based on how people have responded to therapy, their involvement level with cancer and how cancer occurred. As part of the evaluation process, Social Security looks at several sources of documentation such as medical reports, test findings, and doctor’s notes. It is important for patients to continue exploring all methods of treatments available to them.
A new study is examining the benefit of using an antibody treatment called pembrolizumab on patients who have been diagnosed with non-small-cell lung cancer. The study involves 24 countries and over 1,000 people and is in the second phase of a 3-phase trial. While Europe and Asia have not yet approved pembrolizumab as a cancer treatment, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has.
The study has produced results that point to the potential benefits of the antibody. Patients are able to safely tolerate the drug in their system and it also has been linked to a longer survival rate. The antibody apparently blocks the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway in people who have lung cancer and melanoma. Patients were given the drug in three-week intervals and the administration of it was divided into two separate doses.
Cancer is a devastating disease that can prevent people from working or supporting themselves and their families. In such cases, people may need to turn to support programs such as Social Security Disability. Therefore, it may be of benefit for people to sit down with a knowledgeable attorney who can explain to them the application process and what to expect.
