Actually, SSD requires that you be unable to work for a period of at least 1 year, or be diagnosed with one of the following and unable to work-
13.10 Breast (except sarcoma—13.04) (See 13.00K4.)
A. Locally advanced carcinoma (inflammatory carcinoma, tumor of any size with direct extension to the chest wall or skin, tumor of any size with metastases to the ipsilateral internal mammary nodes.
B. Carcinoma with distant metastases.
OR
C. Recurrent carcinoma, except local recurrence that remits with antineoplastic therapy.
from their website-
http://www.ssa.gov/disability/profes...dult.htm#13.10
or if you are stage4 you can apply and be approved quickly through their compassionate allowance program-
http://www.socialsecurity.gov/compas...conditions.htm
I am stage 3 and was able to get SSD without any problem due to being unable to work for at least 1 year, and having the "tumor of any size with metastases to the ipsilateral internal mammary nodes".
I went to rads with a lady that was stage2 and had micro invasion in a few nodes. She asked her doctor about SSD and he that she wouldn't be able to get it.
To me, the key is having at least one of your doctors write a statement that you are medically unable to work for at least a year. But not fitting into one of those categories I listed, will make it hard to get SSD. You'll have to go through the long process. Even then, they can review you at 1 year and see if you are able to return to work.
Everyone is supposed to get reviewed on a 1, 3 or 7 year schedule, depending on how severe your disease is.