Background And Objectives For The Systematic Review
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia is a “histologic diagnosis that refers to the proliferation of smooth muscle and epithelial cells within the prostatic transition zone.”1 Men are likely to develop BPH as they age. Half of men ages 51 60 years old and 80 percent of men over 80 years old have BPH according to autopsy data.2
About half of men with BPH develop an enlarged prostate gland, called benign prostatic enlargement , and among these, about half develop bladder outlet obstruction .3 BOO and/or changes in smooth muscle tone and resistance that can accompany BPH often result in lower urinary tract symptoms .1 LUTS are storage disturbances, such as daytime urinary urgency and nocturia, and/or voiding disturbances, such as urinary hesitancy, weak stream, straining, and prolonged voiding.2 LUTS affect an estimated three percent of men ages 4549 years old and 30 percent of men over 85 years old.2 Urinary hesitancy, weak stream, and nocturia are the most commonly reported LUTS.4 BPH/LUTS negatively impact quality of life2,3 and cost the United States over $1 billion annually.3
Monotherapy with 5-ARI agents finasteride and dutasteride is another option for LUTS/BPH and BPE.7 Systematic reviews demonstrate that 5-ARIs are safe and effective13,14 and may be better than ABs in preventing disease progression .14
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Additionally If You Have Another Impairment For Example High Blood Pressure Or Arthritis You May Be Eligible For Ssdi
Applicants often have more than one illness or injury that prevents them from working full-time. One disorder alone may not meet the criteria of an impairment as stated in Social Securitys Blue Book, but if an applicant has multiple medical conditions, Social Security must consider how those health issues, combined together, limit the applicants ability to hold a job and perform necessary daily tasks.
If you have prostate cancer and you have been unable to work full-time, you may be eligible for Social Security Disability benefits.
In order to qualify for Social Security Disability, you will need to satisfy a few specific requirements in two categories as determined by the Social Security Administration.
The first category is the Work Requirements which has two tests.
The second category is the Medical Eligibility Requirement.
Prostate Cancer In Blue Water Navy And Thailand Veterans
Blue Water Navy veterans who served in Vietnamese waters within the specified zone will finally be eligible as claimants for presumptive service connection under the expected changes to VA law. It is important to know what benefits are available to you so you do not leave any benefits that you are owed on the table. Additionally, it has been shown that there was Agent Orange use in Thailand where some of our US Air Force veterans were exposed to the herbicide. If you were in Thailand during the Vietnam War you may have an entitlement to Agent Orange-related VA disability benefits.
The attorneys at Hill & Ponton specialize in veterans law and are available to help U.S. military veterans seek VA disability compensation, with their regional office, for conditions connected to military service. If you are a Vietnam veteran experiencing prostate cancer, contact us today for a free case evaluation.
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What To Do If You Receive A Denial Or Unacceptable Rating Decision From The Va
If you are a veteran with a service-connected disability and you feel that the VA has made an unfair determination regarding your disability benefis, we urge you to contact us right away. With decades of combined experience appealing unfair Regional Office and Board of Veteranâs Appealsâ decisions, we are confident we can win you the benefits you deserve. When you are ready, send us a note or give us a call at -629-1712.
Exposure And Prostate Cancer
Various forms of exposure that veterans have faced during their service have been linked to prostate cancer. Some forms of exposure do have presumptive service connection, while others do not. Therefore, depending on the form of exposure, some veterans may have an easier time becoming service-connected than others.
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Showing Your Inability To Work
Ifyou don’t meet a listing for your prostate problems but are unable towork, you may qualify for benefits if Social Security believes that yourlimitations prevent you from being able to work a full-time job. SocialSecurity uses a Residual Functional Capacity form to assess yourimpairments so the agency can determine if you can work.
Painand fatigue from treatments or sleep disturbances are the two mostcommon effects of prostate problems. The two symptoms can decrease yourabilities in many areas, including:
- performing physical work, such as pulling, pushing, lifting, or carrying objects
- staying in one position for long periods of time
- concentrating on tasks
- completing tasks given in a timely manner
- getting along with co-workers, and
- managing the different demands and stresses at work.
Ifyour prostate problems are frequent or long lasting or are brought onby stress, you should include this information in your record, as it canaffect your ability to do work. Social Security will look at all ofyour limitations together when determining if you are able to do work.For more information, see our series of articles on how Social Security assesses your limitations.
You could be eligible for up to $3,345 per month In SSDI Benefits
Objectives Of Diagnostic Evaluation
The primary objective of the diagnostic evaluation of men with LUTS is to exclude other urologic and non-urologic conditions that may masquerade as BPH. A secondary objective is to determine the severity of BPH. How severe and bothersome are the symptoms? How large is the prostate? Is there associated hematuria and UTI? Is there evidence of bladder dysfunction manifested by incomplete bladder emptying and detrusor instability? Is the prostatic enlargement causing significant BOO?
Men older than 50 years are at risk for clinical BPH and may have coexisting conditions mimicking BPH. Therefore, all men older than 50 years should undergo an evaluation that includes determination of the American Urological Association symptom score and a detailed medical history, a DRE, a urinalysis, and a serum PSA measurement. Urinary cytologies, TRUS of the prostate, uroflowmetry, postvoid residual urine volume measurement, pressure-flow urodynamics, and filling cystometry are optional studies that should be performed with a specific purpose as related to confirming the diagnosis, evaluating the severity of BPH, or selecting treatment.
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How Quickly Can You Get Disability Benefits For Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer means youll get your SSD claim rushed through the Social Security Administrations review process. The SSAs CAL list helps agents quickly and easily identify conditions presumed eligible for disability benefits. Even with minimal medical information, your diagnosis alone should mean your claim automatically qualifies. In other words, you dont have to spend valuable time and money pulling complete medical records before you apply.
Q: Ssdi For Prostate Cancer Suffers
Were sorry to hear about your illness.
Your caseeven more than many otherswill depend on the exact circumstances of your medical and financial conditions. We cant give you a definite answer here, but we will be able to outline the key issues that will influence your decision whether to apply for SSDI based on a prostate cancer diagnosis.
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You May Qualify For Legal Assistance
If you have difficulty standing, sitting or walking due to prostate cancer, you may qualify for SSD. Reading about applying for disability benefits online is just step one. We recommend scheduling a free legal consultation with an experienced Social Security attorney near you. A lawyer will happily answer all your questions and provide confidential legal advice that applies to your situation. Its also the best way to ensure you file an error-free benefits claim the very first time you apply. Some qualified applicants get denied benefits for making basic errors on their claim forms! Dont let that happen to you. An experienced lawyer will help you get paid the most SSD benefits youre owed as quickly as possible.
Ready to see if you may qualify? Click the button below to get your free benefits evaluation online now.
How Disabling Is Prostate Cancer
Approximately 1 in 7 men will be diagnosed with Prostate Cancer during their lifetime. Although prostate cancer is serious, the majority of men who have prostate cancer do not die from the disease. The severity of the illness is different for everyone. While some people will feel well, others may become severely debilitated from prostate cancer.
If you have prostate cancer, and your symptoms are so severe that you are unable to earn a gainful living, there could be financial help available to you. The Social Security Disability Insurance program was created to assist those who have become disabled due to an illness such as prostate cancer.
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Mens Bladder & Prostate Health
Its not uncommon for the bladder or prostate to cause pain, discomfort or urinary challenges for men as they age. Prostate enlargement, for example, is the leading cause of bladder issues such as incontinence and overactive bladder in men.
You dont need to live with these limitations, though. At MUSC, our urologists are among the regions most skilled and experienced. We use advanced diagnostic and treatment options to relieve your symptoms and improve your quality of life. We find a plan that works for you.
Effective Energetic Treatment For Enlarged Prostate
Topics in this Post
Enlarged prostate, also called benign prostatic hyperplasia , is a common condition as men get older. By age 60, about 30% of men show moderate to severe symptoms of BPH by age 80, it is 50%. An enlarged prostate gland can cause uncomfortable urinary symptoms, such as a weak urine stream, urine stream that starts and stops, frequently getting up at night to urinate, and inability to void the bladder.
There are many different treatment options for BPH, ranging from behavior medications to surgery. A minimally invasive option is bipolar enucleation of the prostate, or BipoLEP. If you are considering treatment, here’s what you need to know.
Prostate anatomy
The prostate is a small organ that sits at the bottom of the bladder. The urethra, the tube the drains the bladder, runs through the middle of the prostate.
Early in a mans life, the prostate is roughly the size of a walnut or a small tangerine. Often around 50, the prostate increases in size. For some men, this change closes off the urethra and makes it more difficult for the bladder to empty.
The prostate has two parts. The adenoma is the inner part that surrounds urethra. It is the part of the prostate that grows as men get older. The capsule is the outer part of the prostate and does not change in size over the course of life. A good analogy is to think of an orange. The orange peel represents the capsule, and the fruit represents the adenoma.
Removal of prostate tissue
Procedure
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If Your Prostate Cancer Does Not Meet The Requirements Of Social Securitys Impairment Listing But You Are Still Unable To Work Full
Social Security will conduct a Residual Functional Capacity assessment to evaluate what work-related tasks you are still capable of performing. Social Security will consider how long you can walk, stand, or sit and how much weight you can lift, as well as what accommodations you might need, like frequent restroom breaks. Prostate cancer patients need to urinate frequently and often have pain and stiffness in their hips and back. If Social Security finds that, given your RFC limitations, age, education level, and job skills, there are no jobs you can do, you can be granted disability benefits via a medical-vocational allowance.
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Inflammation Of The Prostate Gland
Bacteria sometimes cause prostatitis . More commonly, the underlying cause is uncertain. Consult your doctor promptly if you experience:
- pain in the groin
- urgent and frequent urination.
Treatment with antibiotics is essential for acute bacterial prostatitis. Admission to hospital is often necessary and, as with chronic bacterial prostatitis, specific antibacterial drugs are required for a long time.
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What Documents Are Necessary For Ssdi
The SSA uses a strict set of guidelines to determine who qualifies and who doesnt. Theyll be looking to see if:
- The patient has debilitating long-term side effects
- Whether cancer has spread and is not expected to respond to treatment
- If surgery or treatment is not successful
- Whether you are disabled as a result of your diagnosis
- If cancer comes back
In order to meet these guidelines, patients must provide documentation as evidence. This might include pathology reports, operative notes, hospitalization summaries, and other documents. The evidence should specify the type of cancer, the extent of its involvement, the site of primary cancer, and any recurrent or metastatic information. A more in-depth explanation of what theyre looking for is available on the SSA website.
Applying For Disability Insurance After Cancer
Once you are in remission, have had your cancer removed or treated, and a doctor has given you the all-clear after a follow-up appointment, you can apply for a disability insurance policy to ensure that your income is protected from other health issues in the future.
Former cancer patients arenât uninsurable, but applying for disability insurance with a pre-existing condition can mean that youâll have higher premiums.
There are several ways to lower your premium if you have a history of cancer:
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Exclusions: If you have a history of cancer, itâs very likely that cancer will be listed as an exclusion and wonât be covered by your policy. How specific the exclusion is depends on your history, including what type and stage of cancer you had.
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Shorter benefit period: Depending on your health history, an insurance agent may suggest that you purchase a policy that only provides benefits for three to five years, instead of until retirement. Once you have several years without claims, you can reapply for a more robust policy.
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Step-graded coverage for illnesses: Step-graded coverage means that when you first buy the policy, youâll have lower coverage for illnesses but full coverage for accidents. Then, each progressive year without a claim means you get more of the full coverage amount if you become disabled from an illness.
We can help you can get disability insurance quotes, and a Policygenius disability insurance specialist can help you personalize your quotes to your needs.
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Prostate Cancer Treatment Methods
Most veterans discover they have prostate cancer after their doctor orders a prostate-specific antigen blood test or digital rectal exam. As veterans age their risk factor for prostate cancer increases.
Cancer in a mans prostate a small walnut-sized gland that produces seminal fluid can be treated by surgery, radiation, hormone therapy, or chemotherapy. Many veterans with prostate cancer choose a treatment program called watchful waiting.
Veterans who choose watchful waiting treatment may be eligible for VA benefits. Veterans with prostate cancer that are on the watchful waiting program are often older veterans that choose to hold off on aggressive prostate cancer treatment and they wait to see if the cancer appears to be growing.
Veterans needing surgery for prostate cancer or prostatectomy will have their prostate removed with the goal of removing all cancerous cells. Veterans needing radiation therapy will undergo treatment that uses high levels of radiation to kill prostate cancer cells while minimizing damage to healthy cells.
Some veterans choose radiation seed implants to battle prostate cancer. Veterans choosing radiation seed implants will have radioactive seeds implanted into their prostate in hopes of killing the cancerous cells.
Veterans with prostate cancer also choose cryotherapy. In this treatment program, cancer cells are killed by freezing them.
Individual Unemployability & Special Monthly Compensationfor Prostate Cancer
For Blue Water Navy veterans who are finally able to take advantage of the presumption of service connection for prostate cancer based on Agent Orange exposure, it is important to make sure that the VA has rated your condition correctly and has not reduced your benefits if you are still entitled to them. It is also important to submit VA claims for a secondary service connection for any conditions that are caused by your prostate cancer. You should also apply for a Total Disability Rating based on Individual Unemployability if your prostate cancer prevents you from obtaining and maintaining a gainful occupation. If you are experiencing unemployment as a residual of prostate cancer, it is important to file a claim for individual unemployability with the VA, not only so you receive benefits at the 100 percent rate, but so you can receive Special Monthly Compensation as well.
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Va Disability For Voiding Dysfunction Frequent Urination And Urinary Incontinence
Veterans with voiding dysfunction, frequent urination, and urinary incontinence may have difficulty emptying their bladders. Other symptoms include having trouble starting to urinate, finding it takes longer than expected to empty ones bladder, using the bathroom more often, leaking urine, or feeling strong urges to use the bathroom.
Lower urinary tract symptoms like these have been associated with veterans with mental health diagnoses and veterans who have been prescribed opioids. Therefore, it may be possible to receive disability benefits for voiding dysfunctions as a secondary service connection related to service-connected mental health conditions or conditions treated with opioids.