Close-up on a woman’s hand adjusting a thermostat valve on a heating radiator. Energy crisis and cold weather concept Credit: Getty
ALMOST two million Brits are facing a “hidden cancer crisis”, that has seen some forced to cut back on food and heating, shock research shows.
Figures suggest there are 3.4 million people currently living with cancer in the UK.
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But, according to Macmillan Cancer Support, half of them – 1.7 million – can’t meet every day needs because support is hard to find.
A survey of over 2,000 adults living with cancer found 14 per cent faced increased costs, with eight per cent struggling to pay their bills, rent or mortgage and 12 per cent unable to stay in or return to work.
Another 12 per cent found leaving home to go to the shops difficult, while nine per cent faced issues with eating.
Meanwhile, 20 per cent also suffered with sleep issues and anxiety.
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The charity warned this avoidable situation is set to worsen – with projections suggesting the number of people living with cancer will surge to 5.4 million in 2045.
It estimated that one million more people are likely to face the same everyday struggles over the next 20 years.
Macmillan’s CEO Gemma Peters said: “We’re facing a hidden cancer crisis leaving people facing serious issues with everyday needs during one of the toughest times of their lives.
“Too often, people are left struggling to get the care and support they desperately need.
“Who you are, where you live, and how you communicate should never dictate your experience of cancer.
“But for too many people it still does. This isn’t fair.”
The charity aims to make accessing support easier by launching a UK-wide “fair care mission”.
It will see 50,000 healthcare professionals and frontline workers trained to assist cancer patients in clinical settings and high street pharmacies like Boots – quadrupling the number currently available.
This will include 5,000 clinical staff such as cancer nurses, and more than 40,000 pharmacists, physiotherapists, paramedics, dietitians, GP surgery staff and speech and language therapists.
The charity hopes to improve people’s day-to-day lives and help ease pressure on overstretched NHS services by making it easier for cancer patients to receive help earlier and in more accessible ways.
It follows warnings that there won’t be enough doctors and nurses to cope with rising cancer cases – with global numbers expected to soar to 35 million a year by 2050.
Macmillan is aiming to have almost 50,000 people signed up to receive specialist cancer training by 2030.
Adele Roberts is supporting Macmillan’s campaign Credit: Getty
Everyday concerns cancer patients struggle with
The survey gathered responses from 2,107 adults in the UK who have had a cancer diagnosis.
It found that many faced difficulty with:
Getting travel insurance (23 per cent)
Sleep problems (20 per cent)
Worry, fear, or anxiety (20 per cent)
Loss of interest/ ability to take part in usual hobbies or interests (17 per cent)
Increased costs (14 per cent)
Appearance (13 per cent)
Practical tasks outside of the home, like shopping (12 per cent)
Loss of income (11 per cent)
Accessing financial support like benefits or grants (9 per cent)
Issues with eating (9 per cent)
Staying in or returning to work (8 per cent)
Ability to meet financial commitments, such as bills, rent or mortgages (8 per cent)
There are currently 11,000 Macmillan Professionals across the UK, but until now training has focused on specialist roles like clinical nurse specialists.
Now the charity wants to give a broader range of professionals access to guidance to support people living with cancer.
The campaign is also supported by broadcaster and DJ Adele Roberts, who was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2021 and now lives with a stoma bag.
She said: “When people hear the words ‘cancer free’, they think that means everything goes back to normal, but the reality is, for lots of us, life changes forever.
“Living with a stoma has completely changed my relationship with my body and there are still daily challenges people don’t always see or understand.
“There’s so much focus on getting through cancer treatment, but not always enough support for what comes afterwards, like rebuilding your confidence, managing the emotional impact and adjusting to a completely new normal.
“Having more support available in local communities and everyday spaces could make such a difference for people trying to navigate all of that.”
