A woman who is recovering from an 18-month fight against breast cancer says she has been left demoralised after finding herself in another battle - with Centrelink over financial support.Debbie Leglise, who had a breast removed and faces another mastectomy midway through this year, said her husband and two children were brought to tears after a gruff phone call this week during which a Centrelink worker knocked back her request to go on a disability pension. She said she was "treated like a criminal" and had her "integrity questioned".Centrelink said its decision was based on strict legislation and the employee had "tried hard to treat (Mrs Leglise) with compassion and sensitivity".The Farmborough Heights woman, who finished 12 months of chemotherapy in November and has a weak heart as a result, resigned from her real estate job late last year after her doctor demanded she rest.She immediately began receiving Newstart allowance from Centrelink but four weeks ago, on the advice of a Centrelink worker, applied instead for a disability pension.The disability pension is for a similar amount of money but means Mrs Leglise would not have to report regularly to Campbelltown Hospital for medical certificates, nor to interviews at Centrelink.However despite the earlier encouragement, Centrelink rejected her application because - despite receiving an oncologist's report and doctor's certificate - no-one can predict for how long she will be incapacitated."I worked through my treatment - financially I had to - and then the doctor said 'enough's enough'," Mrs Leglise said."The idea to get a disability pension for me meant not having to report all the time and being able to not stress about what documents they're wanting next."Mrs Leglise says she is speaking out not because her application was rejected - but because she is upset about the way she has been treated."This is not about the money - I want to make that clear. In the end, there's no difference. This is about the way I've been treated and the way I've been spoken to," she said.She, husband Wayne and their children had been forced to move from their previous home and can't do without the extra benefit."On just one (income) we can't survive," Mr Leglise said. "We're not bludgers - we didn't ask to be in this position."Centrelink need to realise there are good people out there who are stuck between a rock and a ledge who just want to work their way back up."Mrs Leglise is calling for more flexibility and compassion in how Centrelink deals with sick customers - particularly cancer patients.A spokesman for Centrelink said the decision would be reviewed at Mrs Leglise's request."Centrelink has done everything it can to properly assess and assist the customer through what must be a very difficult time for her and her family," he said."We apologise for any upset she experienced in being informed of the decision that she is ineligible for disability support pension."We're mindful of the difficulties people face when they are battling illness and we are certainly sympathetic to this customer's situation." Cunningham MP Sharon Bird has offered to help Mrs Leglise through the Centrelink process.