On average, those living with cancer spend £756 a month – or £9,072 annually – on additional expenses such as travel to appointments, higher energy bills, hospital parking, childcare and prescriptions. Almost three in ten (29%) reported spending more than £1,000 extra a month, while 7% faced costs exceeding £2,000.
The financial strain is forcing many into difficult decisions. A fifth (20%) of patients said they had returned to work earlier than they wanted due to money worries, while 15% said their partner had quit work to care for them, further reducing household income. Nearly one in three (30%) have had to dip into savings, and over a quarter (28%) described money worries as one of the hardest parts of having cancer – even ahead of telling their children.
Zurich found that more than a quarter (26%) of patients had no financial safety net, though one in four (24%) said their lives were made easier by a payout from critical illness or income protection cover.
Louise Colley, director of retail protection at Zurich UK, said: “For many, the financial impact of a cancer diagnosis can be unexpected and span way beyond the illness itself. Our data shows that the stress of managing unexpected costs adds a heavy burden for individuals, families and their loved ones with many struggling to make ends meet. With so many people’s lives touched by cancer, protection can play a vital role in ensuring life is made a little easier following a diagnosis. There are also some charities that support cancer patients with managing extra costs like parking or prescriptions. If anyone needs practical or emotional support, charities like Maggie’s can offer support through their network of centres across the UK.”
Dame Laura Lee DBE, chief executive of Maggie’s, added: “These hidden costs have always been there, but they are compounded by the drop in income that usually comes with a diagnosis and the increase to the cost of living we have seen over the last few years. Coping with the cost of cancer is far harder today and it’s unthinkable that someone worrying about cancer is also worrying about putting the heating on, getting to their hospital appointment or buying food.
“Maggie’s provides free expert support for people with cancer, and their family and friends, to help them navigate these challenges, and people can visit our centres with no appointment or referral needed.”
