Leading cancer charity warns ‘patients are facing impossible choice’ between getting to hospital appointments or food and water as cost-of-living crisis soars

• Record numbers are turning to Macmillan Cancer Support for financial help.
• Patients are already having to delay or cancel travelling to medical appointments for cost reasons which could have major implications on both health and prognosis, with concerns that ‘the worst is yet to come’ this winter’.
• The charity has already exceeded the amount it typically gives out for grants and financial support in a year and it is having to invest even more in extra support.
• The charity can only continue to support people with cancer with the help of the public and is rallying to raise its highest ever amount as it pledges ‘the time to act is today.’

The cost-of-living crisis is sending people with cancer across the UK into a ‘downward spiral’, according to a leading charity. Macmillan Cancer Support is issuing a stark warning today that the ‘time to act is now’, as it reveals record numbers of patients are already turning to the charity for financial help this year and fears ‘the worst is yet to come’.

New figures from Macmillan show an estimated two million people with cancer in the UK (66%) are already concerned about the cost of food or water over the next 12 months[i].

In some cases, cost pressures have already led to at least 20,000 cancer patients (6%) delaying or cancelling travel to medical appointments related to their cancer diagnosis or treatment and follow-up[ii], which could have had major implications on both their health and prognosis.

The charity’s research also shows one in five people with cancer (19%) are already struggling to pay basic living costs[iii]. The rising costs for people living with cancer come on top of the existing financial impact a cancer diagnosis already brings, which for those affected reaches almost £900 a month on average, in addition to their usual outgoings[iv]. As well as this, many people living with cancer are also facing distressingly long waits in receiving the financial benefits that they are entitled to.

This, along with the other ways cancer is affecting people’s lives, means hundreds of thousands of people with cancer across the UK are seeing their physical or mental health deteriorate. Macmillan’s figures show more than half a million people with cancer (17%) are feeling down, depressed or hopeless on a weekly basis[v]. Based on current forecasts, the charity is concerned that rising energy costs and expected winter NHS pressures are likely to only exacerbate things for people living with cancer in the months ahead.

So far this year, the expert teams on Macmillan’s Support Line have answered over 150,000 queries from people in need, and the charity has supported more than 34,000 people with a financial grant[vi]. The number of people it supported with a grant in the first half of 2022 is the highest number it has on record for a six-month period[vii]. In response, the charity is having to double its team dedicated to supporting people with financial issues on its helpline to try and keep up with the demand. This unprecedented need means Macmillan has already exceeded the amount it typically gives out for grants/financial support in a year and must invest more in extra support.

Julian, (age 34), a medically retired football coach from Essex, diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour in 2016 and has received Macmillan financial support, says:

“My diagnosis meant I had to let go of my dream job as a football coach due to my mobility issues. I’ve always worked my whole life and now I have to rely on benefits, which isn’t enough to cover the cost of my expenses — it’s really tough but I am left with no choice. We are living week by week. I’m homebound so my heating and electricity bills have been higher, and I have often had to make the difficult choice between food or petrol for the day. I’ve always liked to go out and enjoy my food, but now we have to budget. It was those little things that made me feel more normal allowing me to forget that I have cancer, but that’s now taken away from me.”

Debbie, (age 55), originally from Zimbabwe now living in London, diagnosed with stage 3 ovarian cancer in August 2021, and soon to become grandmother, says:

“My partner and I are very proud people. I’ve never claimed any kind of assistance from the Government in my 34 years of living in the UK and as much as Macmillan said I was entitled to financial support, I didn’t want to do it. I was determined to live day to day on as little as I could, but I hit breaking point having to deal with the skyrocketing costs of living. Eventually I gave in and learnt it’s okay and there’s no shame in asking for help. We are cutting down costs of every little thing we can, but I feel like our options are limited. We’re coming into the winter months and I’ve just had surgery, and for anyone that has gone through chemotherapy and multiple surgeries like myself, it’s so important to keep warm and not to worry about having to turn your gas and heating up. The support we’ve received from advisors on Macmillan’s Support Line has been a lifeline, but I am extremely worried about what the future holds.”

Christopher Jones, Welfare Rights and Energy Team Leader at Macmillan Cancer Support says: “There has been a real change in the tone of the calls we have been receiving on the Support Line recently. People are really struggling, and emotions are heightened. We’re hearing from people every day who are feeling the enormous pressure with the rise in cost of living and not knowing what to do or where to turn, all while coming to terms with a cancer diagnosis. Some are even having to face the impossible choice between getting to hospital appointments or food and water.

“We want anyone with cancer who is struggling or facing financial hardship to know that they are not alone and Macmillan’s specially trained teams are on hand, every day, to provide support. Our experts can help with financial or welfare guidance or provide practical answers to day-to-day questions. Looking ahead, we know that things may get harder as we approach the winter months but we will keep doing whatever it takes to ensure people with cancer have the support they need.”

Lynda Thomas CBE, Chief Executive at Macmillan Cancer Support says “This is an acutely challenging time for people with cancer. Not only are many struggling with the ongoing delays to cancer treatment and benefit payments, they are now burdened with the rising cost of living with concerns that this winter, the worst is yet to come.

“Macmillan is doing whatever it takes to give people living with cancer the support they need. However, we can’t do this alone. We rely on donations for 98% of our income and are so grateful for the dedication of our supporters. Their generosity enables us to keep going and support even more people living with cancer. But our work is far from done. Things are tough, and so we must do more now than we’ve ever done before to help them — the time to act is now.”

The 111-year-old charity is setting out to raise its highest amount ever this year to continue to fund the services and support cancer patients around the UK desperately need. The charity gets 98% of its income from donations and can only continue supporting people living with cancer thanks to the generosity of the public. At a time when the cost-of-living crisis is affecting people with cancer across the UK, Macmillan needs every penny donated more than ever.

The charity also continues to campaign tirelessly to ensure that cancer is at the top of the Government’s agenda at this crucial time and keeps pushing every day to do whatever it takes to ensure people with cancer get the support they need.

To donate and help make a difference today, visit www.macmillan.org.uk/donate-now

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About Macmillan Cancer Support

At Macmillan, we give people with cancer everything we’ve got. If you’re diagnosed, your worries are our worries. We will move mountains to help you live life as fully as you can. And we don’t stop there. We’re going all out to find ever better ways to help people with cancer, helping to bring forward the day when everyone gets life-transforming support from day one. We’re doing whatever it takes. But without your help we can’t support everyone who needs us. To donate, volunteer, raise money or campaign with us, call 0300 1000 200 or visit macmillan.org.uk

Cost considerations for people living with cancer

· A diagnosis can come with a significant price tag due to an array of extra and often unexpected needs as well as a drop in earnings if they are less able to work.

· We know that many people living with cancer experience side effects from their treatment, such as neuropathy, that means they feel the cold more, or spend more time at home because of their treatment, therefore needing to have the heating on more regularly. In the current climate many people living with cancer are struggling with the rise in cost of energy bills.

· People living with cancer have additional transportation costs to get to and from hospital appointments — also adding to cost-of-living pressures.

· It is also not uncommon for people living with cancer who are at risk of infection, or have particular cancers such as prostate and bowel, to require the use of more energy and water for cleaning bedding and clothes more frequently.

· (More info/data available, on request)

References

[i] Macmillan Cancer Support/YouGov survey of 2,050 adults in the UK who have had a cancer diagnosis. The vast majority of fieldwork was undertaken between 31st May and 15th June 2022, with a small additional sample surveyed on 9th and 10th July 2022. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of people living with cancer in the UK. Question wording was as follows: Thinking ahead for the next 12 months, which, if any, of the following areas are a cause of financial concern? (Please select all that apply). Among all respondents, 62% selected ‘food’ and 30% selected ‘water bills’. Overall, 66% of people with cancer selected either food or water bills. 2 million figure estimated by applying the 66% figure to the 3 million people living with cancer in the UK. 3 million figure taken from: Macmillan Cancer Support. Cancer Prevalence. Accessed September 2022

[ii] As per ref i. Survey included including 207 people currently going through cancer treatment (referred to in this release as ‘cancer patients’). Question wording was as follows: In which, if any, of the following ways have increased living costs affected you and your personal life? (Please select all that apply). Re-based figures show that 6% of respondents currently in treatment selected ‘I have had to delay or cancel travelling to medical appointments related to my cancer diagnosis, treatment or follow-up’. ‘At least 20,000 figure’ is based on applying the 6% figure to a Macmillan estimate that around 366,000 people started treatment for cancer in the UK in 2021, based on the combined numbers of first definitive treatments from the data releases on cancer waiting times for England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Please note the total number of people currently in treatment is higher than this, as this figure just represents those who started treatment for a new diagnosis, not those having ongoing treatment for an existing diagnosis

[iii] As per ref ii. Refers to all people who have had a cancer diagnosis, not just those currently in treatment. Question wording was as follows: To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements?

(Please select one for each statement). 19% of respondents agreed with ‘I am currently struggling to pay my basic living costs’

[iv] Macmillan Cancer Support/Truth survey of 1,329 adults who have received a cancer diagnosis. Fieldwork was undertaken between 13th January and 7th February 2020. The survey was carried out online. Sample is weighted to represent national population of people who have received a cancer diagnosis in terms of demographics (age, gender, region) and cancer type/time since diagnosis using prevalence data. The research shows that 83% of people with cancer in the UK experience some kind of financial impact of cancer, and for those affected, the average monthly amount at their most financially challenging time is £891. This is a weighted average, taking into account both loss of income and increased costs.

[v] As per ref i. Question wording was as follows: Over the last two weeks, how often have you been bothered by the following problems? (Please select one for each row). 17% of respondents selected ‘more than half the days’ or ‘nearly every day’ for ‘Feeling down, depressed or hopeless’. ‘More than half a million’ figure estimated by applying the 17% figure to the 3 million people living with cancer in the UK, estimated as per ref i

[vi] Macmillan Cancer Support internal data. Refers to 1st January 2022 to 17th September 2022. During this time, the specialist teams on Macmillan Support Line completed 150,842 call interactions (Macmillan’s Support Line consists of six specialist teams, and each conversation with a team counts as one ‘call interaction’). The figure for the same time period in 2021 was 145,560, and in 2020 this was 128,746. Between 1st January 2022 and 17th September 2022, Macmillan also supported 34,289 people with cancer with a financial grant. The figure for the same time period in 2021 was 22,217 people, meaning the figure for 2022 is a 54% increase compared with 2021. The figure for the same time period in 2020 was 21,381, meaning the figure for 2022 is a 60% increase compared with 2020.

[vii] Macmillan Cancer Support internal data. Refers to 1st January 2022 to 30th June 2022. During this time, Macmillan supported 22,651 people with cancer with a financial grant. Comparable records for financial grants exist for the previous three years