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Pancreatic Cancer Treatments Vary Significantly in Quality of Life and Survival Rates

You may be facing a medical disability such as pancreatic cancer that prevents you from working, and it could entitle you to receive Social Security disability benefits.

Pancreatic cancer is treated a number of different ways and according to CNN Health, researchers find the quality of life and survival rates vary significantly depending on the type of treatment given to patients.

A new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, found differences between patients given gemcitabine, which is most commonly used by oncologists, and FOLFIRINOX, a combination of 4 chemotherapy drugs.

Comparisons between the 2 led to the following findings: 

• FOLFIRINOX had a longer survival rate of 11.1 months compared to 6.8 months with gemcitabine;
• 5% of patients on gemcitabine experienced hair loss, low white blood cell counts, severe diarrhea, fatigue and loss of feeling in hands and feet; and
• just 31% of patients on FOLFIRINOX had a decent quality of life after 6 months, compared to 66% of patients on gemcitabine.   

Researchers came to the conclusion that while FOLFIRINOX had better rates of survival, it led to a decreased quality of life. They recommend patients older than 76 or those who have serious health problems not use FOLFIRINOX.

Unfortunately, pancreatic cancer is the 4^th leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. If you have been diagnosed with a severe medical condition, you should consult with a disability lawyer in South Florida to see if you qualify for Social Security disability benefits.

Contacting a Disability Lawyer in South Florida

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.