CANCER diagnosis could be a “financial wrecking-ball” to thousands of people in Scotland, according to charity, as one in three patients are “severely impacted”.
Macmillan Cancer Support says new data shows the precarious financial position of hundreds of thousands of patients. Its research shows one in three people with cancer in Scotland (32%) are severely financially affected by their diagnosis.
Across the UK, almost one in three (31%) of those with cancer who are severely financially impacted have had to take a loan or go into credit card debt. Macmillan likens cancer to a “financial wrecking ball”, as diagnosis can result in reduced income, rising household bills and mounting transport costs to hospital appointments.
While people in older age groups – who are most at risk of cancer – tend to have more savings, the new data shows that one in 10 (10%) of those 55 or over in Scotland have no more than £250 to fall back on.
In addition, Macmillan’s new research shows more than half (58%) of people with cancer in Scotland are in work when they are diagnosed. Siobhan MacAndrew, 58, from Dundee was finalising a divorce and her employment had ended at Abertay University when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in November 2019.
She said: “These events all happened within a couple months.
I desperately needed someone to help me. That’s when Macmillan Cancer Support made contact.”
With concerns about paying her mortgage and what would happen when her settlement pay ran out. MacAndrew said: “I had no income and needed to apply for benefits.
“I am educated but was completely at sea and afraid of all the forms to fill in. My Macmillan benefits adviser provided detailed and reassuring assistance. I would never have been able to do this myself, I didn’t even know I was eligible. Without his help I would have had no income.
“They also arranged a small grant award of £300 for expenses incurred because of cancer, such as clothing due to weight loss and heating bills.”
Macmillan is launching a new campaign, Everyone From Day One, as it was announced as the new charity partner for the 2021 Virgin Money London Marathon and Charity of the Year for Virgin Money. It hopes the partnership will help it reach its goal of being there for everyone facing cancer from the time they are diagnosed, to help with every aspect of their life.
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