My client was already receiving low care for arthritis in hands when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. I requested a supersession because of her change of circs and completed the form for her in August. She has just had the decision that she does not qualify for middle care as when her treatment stops so will her care needs. (I havent seen the letter yet). I presume they are saying that the condition will not last longer than 6 months! My client does not finish her chemo until Jan and this will be followed by radiotherapy. In addition she has neuropathic pain from her elbow to shoulder following removal of her lymph glands which may not subside. I have put in an appeal - has anyone had similar problem and was an appeal successful? I find it hard to believe that DLA can predict when care needs may end when the doctors still cant confirm her prognosis.

I have done several cases around breast cancer though more often with clients who had no major needs prior to the diagnosis /treatment.

On occasions these have been done under terminal rules ( as it is impossible to tell at the beginning if the client will survive though obviously most do) Clearly if awarded the client on recovery/recovery with side effects has to notify a change and often reduces to nikl or low.

One of my clients was refused any DLA which we had claimed under terminal rules- sadly she had died by the tribunal ( about a year later) we won- the chair made a comment about it being terminal as she was now dead though the evidence was much more solid and I think it was the chairs idea of a joke.

More often clients are left with side effects to the treatment, most commonly these are nerve problems and lymphodema swelling. Although I cant say they always get the benefit we most often get DLA low care for these cases the jump to middle care is rairly possible.

If the client has a second brush with breast cancer then it appears that the side effects are higher ( its almost as if the body remembers and reacts) we have gone up to middle care with these additional effects