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2 New Drugs May Extend Lives of Melanoma Patients

When you're diagnosed with a health condition, such as melanoma, that has lasted or is expected to last 12 months, or result in death, then you may qualify for Social Security disability benefits.

A report from the New York Times indicates that 2 new drugs may help extend the lives of patients with advanced melanoma. One drug helps the immune system to fight the cancer and the other attacks the genetic mutation responsible for tumor growth.

Researchers say that while it can't cure melanoma, except in rare situations, it can add anywhere from 2 to several more months of life expectancy. Currently, those with advanced melanoma have a life span of 6 to 10 months.

One of the drugs, vemurafenib, was found to reduce the risk of dying by 63%, with 84% of the patients still alive after 6 months. Although the success was so significant, researchers stopped the trial so patients in the control group could also benefit from the new drug. Therefore, the true media survival rate is unknown.

The other drug, ipilimumab, when it's combined with dacarbazine, extended life expectancy to 11.2 months. After 3 years, 20.8% of those who took it were still alive.

The next step is for researchers to try both of the drugs together.

You should consult with a Miami-Dade County Social Security disability lawyer if you have questions concerning your eligibility for disability benefits.

Filing for Social Security disability benefits is complicated and time-consuming, but at LaVan & Neidenberg, P.A., our team of disability attorneys is ready for the challenge. We like to empower our clients by providing a FREE Social Security disability guide so you can learn more about the process of filing for disability benefits.

When you're ready to get started, contact The Law Offices of LaVan & Neidenberg, P.A. to begin your claim. Our state-of-the-art, customized intake and database system means less hassle, so you can focus on what's most important to you instead of having to spend your days wading through confusing legalese and legal red tape. Call today - 1-888-234-5758.