MO sign off for disability

[BigM62]

The results of my Axumin scan are in - and as expected new spots on my hips and L2 as well as lymph nodes in my belly. I lasted 31 months since my last chemo cycle. And 38 months since diagnosis to now officially be mCRPC.

Am starting Zytiga as soon as the insurance pre-authorization comes through.

I’m now officially mCRPC rather than just stage 4. From my last post I was considering retirement (I’m 57) to enjoy my family and focus on appointments and the like. My wife and I discussed and decided that YES I should retire as soon as possible.

I know I now qualify for the compassionate allowance fast track for SSDI since I’m metastatic, reoccurring, and have scans to prove it.

But I will also need my doctor to sign off as well for me to get disability insurance from my job. Has anyone had success or difficulties with thier MO agreement that you can go on disability at the mCRPC stage but not yet in physical pain? My biggest issue is my mood swings and mental fog- although I really also want to focus on my family. Do MOs want to see you more physically limited first? Or like SSDI they recognize it’s “time”?

[MarkBC]

Sorry to hear of the advancement in your cancer. I am probably shortly behind you. I am still considered castrate sensitive and am 30 months after diagnosis and chemo. My PSA is slowly rising each month. I will see my oncologist in January and will likely have scans done at that time.

I am in Canada so it is a different system. I was able to claim disability benefits at diagnosis. My oncologist was very willing to fill out the necessary paperwork and she didn't charge me anything for it. She said she fills out a lot of benefit forms. It comes with being an oncologist.

Best of luck with abiraterone. Please keep us informed of how it goes.

[MarkBC]

Another point. I'm glad you have decided to retire. I retired at 55 after diagnosis. I don't regret my decision at all.

[Shooter1]

Primary care physician will sign off with very little urging.

[tom67inMA]

At my original diagnosis my urologist was very willing to sign off on my disability. Since then I've been using my oncologist (who I see weekly, sigh) for disability claims, and his attitude has been "whatever you want". So, no problem whatsoever getting support for disability here. Actually, they only opinion I got from my oncologist is "no way are you to work in an office building during the pandemic", so actually my problem would be getting his permission for me to return to work.

For whatever it's worth, I hate to use the word "retired", even though that's exactly where I'm at right now. Technically, I'm on indefinite medical leave from my job, still have an office, work e-mail account, etc.

[j-o-h-n]

If your M.O. is a male and he refuses to sign off..... kick him in the balls........... If your M.O. is a female and she refuses to sign off...................kiss her on the lips.........

Actually I'm tired of being retired.....

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Friday 11/06/2020 6:53 PM EST