Terminal Lung Cancer

[Armywife1297]

I am hoping some of you here can help us out. My husband the serving member has just been diagnosed with advanced lung cancer on top of lung disease. Treatment options are very limited because of the lung disease as most would do even more harm. Life expectancy is short. We have no clue as to what supports there are available, in fact he was told to still go to work because the base doctor hasn't received all of the reports from the oncologist and lung specialist yet. So right now other than a meeting with sisip to go over our life insurance and make sure that is up to date we have no idea what to do. Any advice or contacts we could reach out to would be a great help. Thank you!

 

[Halifax Tar]

I am hoping some of you here can help us out. My husband the serving member has just been diagnosed with advanced lung cancer on top of lung disease. Treatment options are very limited because of the lung disease as most would do even more harm. Life expectancy is short. We have no clue as to what supports there are available, in fact he was told to still go to work because the base doctor hasn't received all of the reports from the oncologist and lung specialist yet. So right now other than a meeting with sisip to go over our life insurance and make sure that is up to date we have no idea what to do. Any advice or contacts we could reach out to would be a great help. Thank you!

First I am very sorry for this. I can't imagine what you and your family are and will go through.

Your husband should engage his CoC, a padre and or social worker. As well a Designated Assistant should be assigned.

I full expectation that our organization should rally behind you and your family during this awful time. And all assistance and comfort should be provided.

 

[Staff Weenie]

I am so sorry that your family is facing this situation. I would suggest that he immediately reach out to the nearest Transition Centre. The Services team there will know what support, benefits and services are available to him, and even to you. If you don't know how to contact the Transition Centre, please feel free to reach out to me at paul.barnshaw@forces.gc.ca

 

[calculus]

Ma'am, my condolences to you and your husband. I've always found VAC to be helpful when trying to find out the range of benefits available. You can find some contact numbers at the bottom of the following page:

https://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/health-support

 

[OldSolduer]

I am so sorry that your family is facing this situation. I would suggest that he immediately reach out to the nearest Transition Centre. The Services team there will know what support, benefits and services are available to him, and even to you. If you don't know how to contact the Transition Centre, please feel free to reach out to me at paul.barnshaw@forces.gc.ca

I agree. And I would have some very very nasty things to say to his CoC or whoever told him to return to work if I were working the TC.

You might need to inquire about an Assisting Officer. These are people who are assigned to assist the member or the family - often both as you cannot separate the two.

Staff Weenie - you're more up to date than I. Could the TC assign an AO?

 

[Staff Weenie]

I agree. And I would have some very very nasty things to say to his CoC or whoever told him to return to work if I were working the TC.

You might need to inquire about an Assisting Officer. These are people who are assigned to assist the member or the family - often both as you cannot separate the two.

Staff Weenie - you're more up to date than I. Could the TC assign an AO?

The Transition Centre (TC) would keep a list of all trained and current Designated Assistants (DA) in the area, regardless of what unit they actually belong to. If the unit in question cannot provide a DA, the TC can certainly help find one from another unit. Most TC are not able to provide one of their own staff as a DA to another unit, as there just aren't enough staff to do it.

The Doctor should also be assigning Medical Employment Limitations immediately, to ensure that he is not placed into a dangerous situation.

Other than this, I don't have enough information to offer more guidance. Hopefully she reaches out to a TC soon.