Disability Benefits Based on Stomach Cancer

Most stomach cancers develop in the cells found in the lining of the stomach and most are adenocarcinomas. Prognosis depends on where in the stomach the cancer is located and how early it is detected, but for many stomach cancers, the prognosis is grim because the cancer isn't detected early enough.

Symptoms and Treatment

Symptoms of stomach cancer include vomiting blood, unintentional weight loss, painful abdominal bloating, dark stools, fatigue, and loss of appetite. Treatment includes surgical removal of the cancerous tissues.

Qualifying for Disability for Stomach Cancer

To automatically qualify for SSDI or SSI disability benefits for stomach cancer, you need to have a diagnosis of cancer of the stomach that:

• cannot be operated on or fully removed
• has grown into surrounding areas
• returned after treatment, or
• spread to nearby lymph nodes or elsewhere in the body.  

It is important that you provide the SSA with copies of your biopsies, blood tests, MRIs, and any reports created by your oncologist.    

Alternate Ways to Qualify for Disability

Surgeries to remove cancer from the stomach often result in greater weight loss and nutritional deficiencies than most other cancers. Extreme weight loss can cause significant fatigue that severely impacts the ability to work.

If your stomach cancer doesn't fulfill the above criteria, but you suffer from weight loss after surgery, you may be able to get a medical-vocational allowance or may qualify for disability under the SSA's disability listing for digestive disorders.