Anyone that might have any advice...

[daniel]

Hello there everybody,maybe not the right place to ask this but i cant really find any resources and really dont know what direction to go in at the moment.... Im 35 and was diagnosed with stage 4 osophogeal cancer with it also detected in my non regional lymphatic system somewhere around june last year.Surgery wasnt an option as they said something about it being to far gone (i cant remember why)After a couple of goes with chemo and a month of radiation i guess i got the best result i could as tumour shrunk and it hasnt been detected anywhere in the body a year later wich im so grateful and blessed it didnt go the other way.I told all my family im cured and who knows these things happen!I have read about the statistics and my chances of survival and i know its not pretty.I hate to be pesamistic and always try to stay positive and keep on keepin on but sometimes it does get the better of me both physically and mentally.I worked in construction industry for over 10 years mostly working with chemicals used for waterproofing and im sure that cancer and waterproofing chemicals dont really go together.I have only ever done manual labouring work and dont know how to do anything else and frankly i wouldnt walk onto a construction site if you payed me,who would give a person a job when they have advanced cancer?lol.I havent worked in nearly two years because before my diagnosis swallowing was a fulltime job and am currently on a disabilty pension from centrelink.I dont know what to do whether to go back to work as i have so much debt and the pension just doesnt cover it..I have tpd(total permanant disability) attached to life insurance on one of my super funds but after reading the policy statement i assume i have to lose the ability to wipe my own arse before i can get it.Has anyone else had any experiences with cancer and claiming a tpd from there superannuation?Any advice would be greatly appreciated.. Remember to ask the person with one leg for directions as he will surely know the easiest way to get there!

[Loulou]

Hi Daniel, I don't know what odds or timeframe you have been given. I know this is hard to face and come to terms with, and financial problems make it even tougher. I was given 12 months prognosis, and my oncologist was happy to sign off on this for my super when i explained the situation. They have released all my superannuation and even paid out my life insurance. I needed 3 doctors to sign off that i had a terminal illness with less than 12 months to go. Speak to your oncologist and local GP as to what they say they estimate your prognosis time to be. Explain to them you are trying to access your super tpd. Talk to your super fund about sending you forms to see what 'requirements you need to meet'. The doctors may be prepared to sign off on your worst case scenario timeframe so don't let this set back your mental attitude. Let me know if you have any other questions. Hope this helps. Lou Lou

[daniel]

hi lou lou,thanks for the reply:) Well my initial prognosis was less then 12 months but after the treatment the oncologist doesnt say much...I just walk in he weighs me,looks at my ct scans says "looks good"and then shuffles me out the door.Believe me i am grateful he says that and i know for many others it doesnt go so well.you are right,i guess the best thing i can do is communicate with the doctor better to find out what his real thoughts are on my prognosis,whether or not he would say i have less then 12 months to live im not sure,but he has said its incurable and the moratality rate is high.I know i know i should just concentarte on the survival rate and stay positive and all that.I really try hard to tell myself im totally cured but stupid google has convinced me otherwise.lol.Im sort of in between a rock and a hard place as I feel guilty that im still able bodied and not out working like so many people do with cancer but i really just want to concentrate on my health...its like walking around with a ticking timebomb in my chest and i dont know when its going to go off,or if it will at all????????????

[Loulou]

I can so relate to everything you say. I "officially" resigned my job 3 weeks ago even though I had been off work for the past 10 months. I kept telling myself I would go back to work when I was better. I too feel guilty when I see others hard at work. I don't know how much time any of us have, but however much there is I am going to spend it doing stuff I want to do, not need to do. I am going to be here when my kids get home from school in the arvo's and have fun with them in school holidays. We have just had a nice family holiday overseas. If the worst does happen I don't want to have spent my time at work instead of with my family, where it really counts. I look at taking my Super in a lump sum now as being able to cover my lost wages and not adding more pressure on the family. There is enough stress dealing with this already. My doctor (who gave me the initial 12 months) has advised he can't see it spreading yet and seems quite pleased, but no-one has given me a new timeframe. I feel ok physically, even though my 12 months is up in 6 weeks time. I have also been advised mine is aggressive and incurable. Yet it hasn't spread yet, and google is still doom and gloom. I am grateful I am doing so good so far. I hope to be around for a long while yet. You can still concentrate on surviving this and living your life, but at least if they pay out your tpd benefit it will make life easier for you, and hopefully less stressful. Even if it means your dr has to pick a timeframe. Its definately worth having a look at what the conditions for your tpd benefit are. My prognosis timeframe is based on medical foundation, not on any willpower, positivity or determination foundation. I'm sure if they could measure this the prognosis would be a different story. The Timebomb theory. I certainly can understand that one.