Details

Cancer patients who have a severe disability card are entitled to so-called disadvantage compensation. This is a certain amount of compensation for the fact that cancer patients are impaired in their physical, mental, or emotional health. The specific benefits depend on the degree of disability and other factors. The conditions under which someone can obtain a severe disability card, how long it is valid for, and the degree of disability are regulated in detail. Nevertheless, many people affected still have questions: How do multiple illnesses affect their status? How do initial and follow-up applications work, and what about protection against dismissal and additional vacation time? And: Is fatigue considered a severe disability?

We will get to the bottom of these and other questions, including those from participants, and shed light on medical, legal, and social aspects. The online event on April 9, 2026, from 4 to 6 p.m. is aimed at cancer patients, their relatives, and anyone interested in the topic. The event will be held in German.

Program

4:00 p.m. Welcome

• Dr. Susanne Weg-Remers, Head of the Cancer Information Service, DKFZ

4:05 p.m. Severe disability – introduction

• Carmen Flecks, lawyer at the Cancer Information Service (DKFZ)

4:30 p.m. Clarification of typical questions and practical examples

• Dr. Bodo Metz, specialist in surgery, specialist in public health, social medicine, senior physician in North Rhine-Westphalia for severely disabled persons' rights

5:30 p.m. Answering questions from the chat

6:00 p.m. End of the event

You can register here.

The presentations will be made available on the Cancer Information Service website after the event.

The Cancer Information Service is a service offered by the German Cancer Research Center for cancer patients, their families and friends, and anyone seeking advice. Doctors answer all questions about cancer free of charge in an understandable way and based on the latest scientific findings. You can reach us by phone at 06221-420 30 40 or by email (krebsinformationsdienst@dkfz.de). The website

www.krebsinformationsdienst.de also offers reliable information on cancer as well as addresses and links to other quality-assured services.

Upcoming online events:

• June 11, 2026 Immunotherapy for cancer – using the body's own defenses
  • Registration link: https://indico.dkfz.de/event/1482/
• July 23, 2026, 4 to 6 p.m.: “Liquid biopsy – information about cancer from the blood”
  • Registration link: https://indico.dkfz.de/event/1523/

Further details can be found on the Cancer Information Service website. https://www.krebsinformationsdienst.de/aktuelles/online-veranstaltungen-zu-krebs.php