Four in five cancer patients are hit with an average cost of £570 a month as a result of their illness, according to research by Macmillan Cancer Support.
Why is cancer so expensive? People living with cancer often have reduced earnings and need to find money to cover extra costs such as hospital travel costs and increased fuel bills, amid a gloomy economic climate.
One in three lose, on average, £860 a month in earnings because they are unable to work or have cut down their hours. Six in seven cancer patients see monthly expenses shoot up by £270 on average.
The financial burden of cancer is not the same for everyone. Those in work, and those with children, are more likely to bear the cost of their illness. The impact for those on low incomes is twice that for those on the highest incomes.
Which is why at Cost of Cancer we want to help families face the financial burden with hope. We are aiming to make sure they can concentrate on getting through the treatment whilst we take care of the bills.
Whilst we cannot undertake every bill a household has we’re hoping to make a small difference in the financial aspect of having Cancer.