While the cost of living crisis is seemingly set to dominate the news agenda for the year to come, for those with a diagnosis, “the cost of cancer” places another strain on both their finances and their lives.
People with cancer are often forced to cope with the double whammy of reduced income and increased costs at a time when they are likely undergoing surgery or treatment.
Research from Macmillan found that around 83% of people with cancer are around £570 worse off each month and around 400,000 people with cancer in the UK struggle to pay their household bills.
Our Lancaster Development & Engagement Officer Sarah Drake recovered from breast cancer several years ago and has first-hand experience of the financial impact cancer can have.
We asked her to tell us more:
“Cancer has a significant effect on a person's finances. Treatment for cancer, including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, can cause many people dealing with a cancer diagnosis to lose income due to their or their partner’s, family member’s or friend’s illness.
“Time off work is almost certainly needed for treatment, surgery and recovery. Some may need to pay for additional expenses such as travel to and from treatment centres and maybe accommodation for themselves or their caregivers and there are often huge car park fees for lengthy stays, to contend with.
“Childcare costs can also be a big factor – there are many, many appointments and the times of these are not always so compatible with family life. Not everyone can afford health and critical illness Insurance and, even if they do, it may not cover all your costs and expenses can be very high.
“We are only just emerging from a global pandemic and into a cost-of-living crisis which has made it doubly hard for cancer patient to navigate through their diagnosis and treatment. Also, you are told, as a cancer patient, that it’s important to eat well, keep warm or go out and make memories- but isn’t always that easy.”
“What should you prioritise? What would you go without? What cost should you be willing to incur?”
“Cancer is cruel, but, combined with the current cost of living crisis it is utterly dreadful. The services and therapeutic spaces we provide at CancerCare are free of charge to our clients and their families as we recognise that people may not access the support they need if money is a barrier. We also provide a free volunteer driver service if affording public transport is an issue.”
“Please do get in touch if you are struggling. We have partner organisations we can “signpost” you to and our doors are open if you want to talk to someone.”