Cancer patients choosing between treatment and working amid cost of living crisis

Cancer patients are having to choose between lifesaving treatment, or surviving day to day, as the cost of living continues to rise.

A shocking survey has revealed that well over a quarter (29%) of people with a cancer diagnosis are more worried about the cost of living crisis than their cancer. Over three quarters (77%) feel that the crisis is affecting their chances of successful treatment for cancer. 80 per cent of people with cancer also said they are worried about the cost of travel to their hospital appointments.

Over half (55%) of those surveyed said they think they will struggle to pay for food this winter and two thirds (67%) think heating bills will be a problem.

The OnePoll* survey, polled 500 people currently living with cancer. At our centres, we are hearing about people with cancer struggling to go to appointments because of travel costs and/or asking if they can end treatment early so they can return to work because they can’t afford to be off any longer.

The problem isn’t just the rising cost of fuel to get to appointments, but the delay in receiving government benefits. Patients are having to wait on average a minimum of 13 weeks before they get any financial help, which has led some people to having to sell their homes.

Cost of living overshadows living with cancer

Yasmin, 57, from West London has secondary breast cancer and had to give up working for British Airways – a job she had been in for 20 years due to ill health.

Yasmin said: “Physically I am doing ok, the side effects of the drugs I need to take are not too bad, but mentally I have been affected. Applying for benefits has been humiliating and it was not something I asked for. I never asked for cancer, I never asked to lose my job. Claiming benefits is such an intimidating process.”

Melanie Bunce, Benefits Advisor for Maggie’s Fife, said: “I have been a Benefits Advisor for 25 years and this current situation is the worst I have ever seen. The fact is that even very ordinary situations are now becoming impossible for people with cancer.

“People who could have managed a year ago are now facing stark choices between eating, heating and travel to hospital appointments – and particularly badly hit are those in low income jobs.

“The stories we are hearing in our centres have become so much more desperate in the last six months and it is only going to get worse.”

We are here for you

If you need support, or have questions about supporting a team member who is returning to work, please get in touch or come and see us.

Tel: 01223 249220

Email: cambridge@maggies.org

Addenbrooke’s Hospital, 21 Milton House, Cambridge, CB2 0AD

*OnePoll surveyed 500 respondents from across the UK from 22 July 2022 - 1 August 2022. The survey was conducted online using panel members who are credited to participate in surveys. Respondents who are currently living with cancer were targeted using screening questions and profile data in order to ensure the correct demographic was achieved.

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