DLA Mobility Rate and Blood Cancers

Hi All,

I have just last month been diagnosed with aggressive B cell lymphoma (at least stage 3 – tests ongoing) and am on a gruelling R-Chop chemo/ antibody regime from which I am suffering just about every side effect there is including severe breathlessness, dizziness, weakness and severe neutropenia meaning I can barely walk and need to hang onto someone or I would fall.

In short, this all means I cant use public transport and need to be driven to the front door of the Macmillan cancer centre in central London for appointments and be assisted across the road or I risk falling. The costs of the daily congestion charge and parking for these frequent appointments are getting very hard to meet on benefits.

Has anyone had any success getting high rate mobility on the basis of blood cancers / chemo issues?

I asked for a new DLA form to update to add the cancer as my situation is a lot worse now as I need care pretty much 24/7 and am lying down ill all of the time. I think they will consider increasing the care rate as that would make sense but I am less sure on how they look at the mobility side given that there are no actual mechanical problems but rather dizziness and weakness that is causing the immobility. I feel like I have climbed a mountain when I cross a road and porters and nurses see me struggling and bring wheelchairs as soon as I get to the buildings so the issue is very real.

By way of background, pre cancer diagnosis I was already on ESA (support group) and DLA (low rate care and mobility) for issues including severe endocrine problems and depression and anxiety. My depression and anxiety are now both rated as severe.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Many Thanks
Fizz

Hi Fizz,

I would like to wish you good luck with everything.

Take care

Chrissy V

Hi Gordon,
I have had the effects for more than 3 months. It takes a long time for the lymphoma to reach a late stage like mine and that does mean I have needed help with mobility and care for more than 3 months.

Also it is unfortunately certain that I will have the condition for much more than 6 months. It has spread to 5 places so we are looking at the long run. My chemo programme is at least 8 cycles and that does not even guarantee remission.

I am a full member have been through the guides before making my application. Many thanks

My main question really was has anyone got the high rate mobility for immobility caused by the effects of blood cancer as opposed to mechanical issues with limbs.

Many thanks for your help
Fizz

Hi Fizz

The way I always explain it to people is 'it's not WHAT you have got, but HOW it affects your day-to-day life'

I applied for DLA in 2003, and was successful, can't remember what rate I was awarded then though. I've had two renewals since, and at the last one in June 2008, I was given DLA,HRM and HRC indefinitely!

I haven't told you what diagnosis I had then as I didn't know myself until Nov 2008!!! So I was given DLA High Rate in both components indefinitely! When I completed my form, I described how I felt and how it affected my life. So that shows that you don't have to have a diagnosis of anything to get an award!

I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia in Nov 2008, and a couple of yrs later, Osteoporosis and Osteoarthritis, including Cervical Spondylosis.

Good Luck