欧美无码

A poll* commissioned by 欧美无码 found that more than three quarters (76%) of people say cancer has negatively affected them financially.  

From more frequent travel for treatment, to increased use of childcare and central heating, cancer can bring many hidden costs.

These come at a time when people are often experiencing a drop in income as a result of working less during treatment and recovery, with more than one in three (34%) people with cancer saying they had left or changed their jobs because of cancer.   

Consequently, the soaring cost of living will be felt keenly by many people living with cancer and their families.

Financial support and benefits advice available

At each of our 27 centres around the country, financial support is available for people struggling to make ends meet or who are simply worrying about managing their money alongside a diagnosis.

Dame Laura Lee DBE, Chief Executive of 欧美无码, said:

鈥淲e know that cancer can have a significant impact of people's finances, and that external factors such as rising petrol prices and energy bills can make this impact even more profound.

鈥淥ur expert benefits advisors are here to help, providing information about the financial support and exemptions people with cancer may be eligible for, as well as offering tips on managing money throughout treatment and beyond, advice on talking to employers and claiming sick pay, and support with returning to work after cancer.

鈥淎ll our support is free, and we are here for people with every type of cancer, at every stage. Anyone needing support can simply drop in to one of our centres and speak to our expert staff.鈥�

Returning to work after cancer not always possible

Julie, 60, from Heywood, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2023 and treated at the Royal Oldham Hospital. She has experienced severe side effects from treatment, including neuropathy and ulcerative colitis.

Julie hasn鈥檛 been able to return to her job as a support worker, as a result. Benefits advisors at Maggie鈥檚 Oldham have been supporting her.

Julie says: 鈥淭he price of everything is going up 鈥� food, heating, the petrol you need to get to appointments and treatment sessions. So many cancer patients end up in debt just to keep their heads above water.

I鈥檇 see young mothers on the chemo ward with worry etched on their faces about how they were going to feed their children or keep their homes warm, and it was heart-breaking.  

鈥淢y husband and I had some life savings which helped for a little while, but they鈥檝e all gone now. The long-term effects of treatment are so bad that I can鈥檛 go back to work 鈥� my immune system crashed, I get infection after infection, I鈥檓 in excruciating pain and my memory is terrible.

鈥淢aggie鈥檚 sorted all my benefits out for me. I didn鈥檛 know what on earth I was entitled too. But there was still such a long wait to receive any financial support 鈥� people need help from the moment of diagnosis. Chemo makes you so poorly that you can鈥檛 possibly work, and there are so many appointments to attend that there鈥檚 no way you could hold down a full-time job.

But nobody can afford things like critical illness cover in this day and age, so people are really struggling.鈥�

Campaigning for fairer costs

Many people find that even after treatment has ended and they are in recovery, hidden costs can remain. For example, insurance of any kind - including travel, car, and life - is often charged at a much higher rate for people who have had cancer, even if they are currently well.

欧美无码 has an ongoing campaign to make travel insurance fairer for people with a past or present diagnosis, who are often quoted unaffordable premiums or denied cover altogether.

Guidance for employers on supporting employees with cancer

And with polling finding 78% of people were worried about telling their employer they had cancer, 欧美无码 also works with organisations to ensure they are equipped to support staff facing a diagnosis.

This includes supporting colleagues to return to work after treatment ends, which can be both crucial financially but also mark a major milestone in a person's recovery.

Employers can download dedicated guidance or attend workshops organised by 欧美无码 that cover topics such as the long-term side effects of treatment and reasonable workplace adjustments, which make someone's return to paid employment much easier.

How 欧美无码 can help

Whatever kind of cancer, whatever stage you're at, 欧美无码 is here with you.

Our expert staff are here to listen to your concerns and find the help you need wherever you are 鈥� over the phone and online.

• Just come in 
• Call us on 0300 123 180 or arrange a callback
• Email us at鈥�[email protected] 
• Our phone lines and centres are open 鈥疢onday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm