Lung Cancer and work
Lung cancer can affect the respiratory system and may require treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapy or immunotherapy. Depending on the cancer and treatment involved, people may experience breathlessness, fatigue, reduced exercise tolerance, pain or other ongoing symptoms that can affect their ability to work. If lung cancer or its ongoing effects have significantly affected your capacity to work, you may have access to a Total and Permanent Disability (TPD) insurance benefit through your superannuation.
The disease itself, along with surgery and other treatments, may affect breathing, energy levels and the ability to perform work safely and consistently. A diagnosis does not automatically result in a TPD payout; your eligibility depends on your individual circumstances, work capacity and your policy's definition.
“The real question isn't "Am I in remission?" It's "Can I actually sustain my job right now?"”
Work capacity
Lung cancer may affect employment through:
Physical exertion, manual work, driving, and prolonged activity are often hit hardest by these limitations.
Depending on the extent of surgery or radiation involved, lung capacity can be permanently reduced even once other symptoms have settled. This can mean someone looks and generally feels recovered, while still experiencing genuine breathlessness on exertion that a spirometry or lung function test can help objectively document. Because this kind of functional impairment isn't always obvious without formal testing, it's worth ensuring your respiratory specialist's ongoing assessments, not just your original diagnosis and treatment records, form part of your evidence.
Treatment may involve surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapies, immunotherapy or other treatments, affecting work capacity both during active treatment and afterwards. Some people experience lasting reductions in lung function, stamina or overall physical capacity. An assessment may consider your diagnosis, treatment, current symptoms, lung function or physical limitations, fatigue and stamina, functional capacity, your occupation, and attempts to return to work.
Remission doesn't automatically mean you have no claim, nor does it automatically establish eligibility; if ongoing effects continue to significantly restrict your capacity for employment, those effects may still be relevant.
You don't need to determine whether your diagnosis is "serious enough" on your own. Thrive Claims can investigate whether you have relevant TPD insurance through your superannuation and explain the potential next steps.
Questions, answered
Straight answers about lung cancer, work capacity and TPD claims, written in plain English.
Breathlessness, fatigue and the demands of lung cancer treatment can make physical work, travel or even a full office day too much, and TPD claims may be worth exploring. Thrive Claims assists with superannuation claims to help you understand the insurance held in your fund. An income protection claim may also apply, and if you hold several accounts, multiple super funds claims may be possible. Our services bring these pathways together.
Lung cancer may be linked to smoking, but it also affects people who have never smoked, and some cases relate to asbestos or other exposures. Whatever the cause, TPD is assessed against your policy and work capacity. Claims involve physical injury or illness, and may include mental health impacts such as anxiety and depression after diagnosis.
If lung cancer is part of why you receive the DSP or support as an NDIS participant, reviewing your super insurance may be worthwhile. That support alone does not establish Total & Permanent Disability (TPD) claims eligibility, but it may have valid basis. If you have also been affected by a motor vehicle accident, Thrive Claims can help clarify how separate claims may work.
Specialist claim pathways
Australia wide support
Free and confidential
Start with a free assessment of your circumstances and any TPD cover held through superannuation.