Irish Cancer Society research will establish the real cost of cancer for patients and families

Cancer patients and their families are being asked to take part in nationwide Irish Cancer Society research that will establish how having cancer affects them financially. Cancer patients calling the Irish Cancer Society’s Cancer Nurseline, visiting Daffodil Centres and availing of the Society’s patient travel and financial support services, have highlighted how they are trying to cope with the increased costs associated with their cancer diagnosis while also suffering a drop in income.  The Society says that the physical and emotional impact of a cancer diagnosis is immense and that no one should face the additional burden of money worries. The Society’s research called ‘The Real Cost of Cancer’, will calculate the costs being faced by cancer patients and their families and how specific groups of people, for instance the self-employed or people with children, might be particularly hard-hit. The survey is available now. “Our information shows that a cancer diagnosis hits patients and their families hard financially,” said Ms. Kathleen O’Meara, Head of Advocacy and Communications. “If someone is self-employed, young, without private health insurance, not eligible for a medical card or doesn’t have savings, they are left in a very vulnerable position of being unable to manage basic expenses such as heating and travel to hospital for treatment. We are hearing from an increasing number of these people who are finding it difficult to meet these additional expenses.” Liz Barragry, Senior Medical Social Worker at the Mater University Hospital said “Many patients with cancer initially see me for support with the financial burden of their diagnosis. They are often overwhelmed by their diagnosis and financial stress is a big factor in that. This is true for any cancer type. So while patients are adjusting psychologically to their diagnosis they are also adjusting to lower incomes, increased outgoings such as medications, travel, and increased household costs. Additionally, they have to engage with the financial support systems provided by the State, which are often unfamiliar and frustrating.” Over the last five years, the number of cancer patients going through treatment who have asked the Irish Cancer Society for cash support to pay for necessities like heat and travel expenses, has increased by 82%. 
 “Last year, the Irish Cancer Society gave over €1.5 million to cancer patients and their families through our Financial Support Scheme,” said Ms. O’Meara. “This money goes towards essentials such as fuel to heat a patient’s house, childcare or travel costs. When our research is concluded, the Irish Cancer Society will be making recommendations to government, businesses and the HSE to ensure the right support is available at the right time for cancer patients. We want as many people as possible to respond to our survey because that will give us an accurate picture of the challenges cancer patients and their families are facing.” “Queries about cancer costs such as heating and travel are now the third most frequent type of call to the Cancer Nurseline (Freephone 1800 200 700),” continued Ms. O’Meara. “We are hearing an increased anxiety from our callers about the cost to them of having cancer. We are giving more financial support to those who need it but it is often not enough and we are seeing a growing number of cancer patients who are simply unable to manage the extra cost to them because they have cancer.” During 2014, all of the Irish Cancer Society’s frontline services have recorded an increase in queries about how to bear the cost of cancer. The top three reasons recorded for needing financial assistance are heating and fuel (54.2%), travel expenses (23.5%) and childcare (7%). Breast cancer patients make the most applications, followed by lung cancer patients and then colorectal cancer patients. All cancer patients and their families are encouraged to go to the website www.cancer.ie/realcost and help the Irish Cancer Society to understand the financial challenges they are facing. Start the survey 

Watch cancer patients talk about their experiences or read case studies we have collected from a Dublin hospital.