Macmillan Cancer Support is launching an emergency appeal as it warns that thousands of people with cancer in London are in financial distress, with the hidden costs of a cancer diagnosis, coupled with the impact of the cost-of-living crisis, pushing people to ‘extreme measures’.
The leading cancer support charity has seen a worrying rise in people with cancer contacting its support line with money worries who are also presenting with significant mental health concerns; a 33% increase so far in 2023 compared with 2022[i]. This comes as new data from the charity covering the past 18 months reveals that one in five (19%) people with cancer in London are living on a low income, and among this group, almost one in two (46%) have been struggling to pay their basic living costs[ii] – equating to an estimated 23,800 people across London[iii].
Further data from Macmillan shows that one in three (32%) people with cancer in London who are struggling in the cost-of-living crisis are being forced to cut back on basic hygiene or cleaning essentials, such as soap, toothpaste or disinfectant[iv]. Some are neglecting their
nutrition, warmth and hygiene and taking further drastic measures to cut costs such as skipping meals, washing using buckets, or missing hospital appointments[v]. Macmillan warns that this could have serious implications for people’s health and potentially impact their chances of survival.
Previous research from Macmillan found that cancer can come with a significant and often unexpected price tag – four in five people with cancer in the UK experience a financial impact, which for those affected reaches almost £900 a month on average in addition to their usual outgoings[vi]. This could include the extra travel needed to get to and from appointments, higher energy costs as people urgently try to stay warm during treatment, or the loss of income with many people unable to work.
These extra costs, on top of the rising cost of living, are having a devastating impact and Macmillan warns that this could be the hardest winter yet for many people with cancer in the UK after what has already been a very challenging year. Since the start of January, Macmillan has given out more than £1.7 million in grants to more than 5,000 people with cancer in London[vii].
Elizabeth (75) from Wandsworth, who has been diagnosed with bowel cancer twice, said:
“Even though I was very ill with the chemo, I’d actually look forward to going to hospital as at least I’d get something to eat and be somewhere warm. I’d be looked after. The house I live in is freezing and isn’t maintained by the council at all, so almost every year I end up in hospital with pneumonia. Last winter I kept the heating on, as I have side-effects from the chemo, but now I’m in arrears with the gas company and I pray to God that no one comes and cuts it off. I’m in debt and I’m petrified.
“Financially it is very difficult – they tell you to eat well and keep warm, but I was already struggling before being diagnosed with cancer. And it’s so much worse when you’re ill. I am living on a pension, so I no longer work. I shy away from people as I just don’t want to talk about being broke. There’s fear, just constant fear. It’s a dark place.
“Rodrigo from Macmillan wrote to the utility company on my behalf explaining that I’m vulnerable. He also helped me access food bank vouchers, gave me welfare benefits advice, and got me a Macmillan grant, which I was very grateful for. It gave me a real lift.”
Richard Manson at Macmillan Cancer Support talks to people with cancer day in day out who are being forced to make devastating financial choices and take drastic measures to survive. Richard says:
“Far too many people going through a cancer diagnosis are also living in severe financial distress, being forced into making heart-breaking choices and struggling to survive. Every day we hear about the extreme measures people are resorting to, such as washing in a bucket to save on bills or having to decide between feeding their children or travelling to life-saving appointments.
“For tens of thousands of people with cancer, this crisis is not going away, in fact it’s only getting worse. At Macmillan we’re doing everything we can to provide vital help to those who need it, but we can’t do it alone. We are almost entirely funded by incredibly generous donations and with more support this winter we can reach even more people at a time when they’ve never needed us more.”
As part of the charity’s Emergency Grants Appeal and following the start of the busy Christmas shopping period, Macmillan is launching its first ‘Winter Gift Guide’. The Gift Guide highlights the huge variety of essentials many people living with cancer need but can’t afford, such as blankets to keep warm during treatment or hygiene products, and the vital impact a Macmillan Grant can have. Macmillan Grants are one-off payments to help with the extra costs that living with cancer can bring. The charity is urging anyone who can to donate to its Emergency Grants Appeal via the Gift Guide to help Macmillan support even more people living with cancer during the difficult winter ahead. macmillan.org.uk/winter-gift-guide
Anyone who may be worried about the financial impact of cancer can find out more about the variety of support available at www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/impacts-of-cancer/benefits-and-financial-support.
