Cancer patients 'struggle with cost of Christmas
Many cancer patients were forced to scale down Christmas because of the cost of their illness, according to a survey published by the charity Macmillan Cancer Relief. The survey findings show that some cancer sufferers were forced to borrow money from friends, take out a loan or extend their overdraft to make ends meet. Some had even cancelled Christmas as a result.
Cancer can be expensive for patients, with many spending increased amounts on heating, special diets, prescriptions, travel and parking at hospital - particularly those undergoing long courses of chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
About two-thirds (66%) of the 58 patients surveyed said they worried about how they were going to afford Christmas this year, while 55% spent less on presents than usual, and 47% cut down on going out.
One in six (16%) borrowed money from friends and family, 13% have taken out a loan and 12% extended their overdraft.
Overall, 60% had to make cuts to their Christmas spending levels this year due to the high costs they shoulder because they have cancer.
Sally Strugnell, a 39-year-old breast cancer patient, said that her family could barely afford to get by over Christmas.
"We have really struggled with Christmas this year", she said. "I haven't been able to save up, or buy presents for friends or my husband. Cancer has robbed us of so much of our daily life that we were determined to have a normal family Christmas, make the best of what we could and enjoy ourselves."
Over 700 people in the UK are diagnosed with cancer each day. More than one in three will be diagnosed at some time in their life.
Peter Cardy, chief executive of Macmillan Cancer Relief, urged patients to contact the charity line to find out about the financial help on offer.
"We know cancer patients can find it hard to make ends meet generally," he said. "But when this is coupled with additional festive costs it can really break the bank, leaving many patients really anxious. Some have even cancelled Christmas.
Please call 0800 500 8000 for the Macmillan campaign line, or visit www.macmillan.org.uk/abetterdeal if you need any help now.
http://society.guardian.co.uk/health/news/0,8363,1674913,00.html
Cancer can be expensive for patients, with many spending increased amounts on heating, special diets, prescriptions, travel and parking at hospital - particularly those undergoing long courses of chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
About two-thirds (66%) of the 58 patients surveyed said they worried about how they were going to afford Christmas this year, while 55% spent less on presents than usual, and 47% cut down on going out.
One in six (16%) borrowed money from friends and family, 13% have taken out a loan and 12% extended their overdraft.
Overall, 60% had to make cuts to their Christmas spending levels this year due to the high costs they shoulder because they have cancer.
Sally Strugnell, a 39-year-old breast cancer patient, said that her family could barely afford to get by over Christmas.
"We have really struggled with Christmas this year", she said. "I haven't been able to save up, or buy presents for friends or my husband. Cancer has robbed us of so much of our daily life that we were determined to have a normal family Christmas, make the best of what we could and enjoy ourselves."
Over 700 people in the UK are diagnosed with cancer each day. More than one in three will be diagnosed at some time in their life.
Peter Cardy, chief executive of Macmillan Cancer Relief, urged patients to contact the charity line to find out about the financial help on offer.
"We know cancer patients can find it hard to make ends meet generally," he said. "But when this is coupled with additional festive costs it can really break the bank, leaving many patients really anxious. Some have even cancelled Christmas.
Please call 0800 500 8000 for the Macmillan campaign line, or visit www.macmillan.org.uk/abetterdeal if you need any help now.
http://society.guardian.co.uk/health/news/0,8363,1674913,00.html
Labels: cancer, cancer-survival, Macmillan Cancer
posted by Dr Search- Principal Consultant at the Search Clinic at
8:55 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home