Nearly half of cancer patients in England are being forced to cut back on basic needs such as food or heating, in order to pay for their prescriptions, a survey by Macmillan Cancer Support has found.
The survey also shows that nearly two thirds of cancer patients are missing out on simple leisure activities, like family days out, because they are struggling to cope with the added cost of multiple prescriptions – often over long periods of time.
The results come more than a year after the Government promised to review the prescription charges system in England, which currently only gives medical exemptions to some illnesses.
Ciarán Devane, Chief Executive at Macmillan Cancer Support, said:
'It's appalling that cancer patients in England are forced to cut back on basic necessities like food to pay for their urgently-needed medication. People must never be forced to choose between food or medication. The Government must act now. Patients should be allowed to focus on getting better instead of worrying how they're going to find money for prescriptions.'
Cancer patients often need multiple prescriptions to ease distressing side effects of cancer treatment like nausea, fatigue, severe mouth ulcers, and debilitating diarrhoea and can spend hundreds of pounds each year paying for prescriptions.
Amanda from Surrey, who was diagnosed with breast cancer last September, said:
'My treatment's over but I'm still struggling. I'm now on statutory sick pay because I've been too unwell to work and quite frankly, have barely enough money to live on. I've had to adjust my lifestyle to cope with the cancer - a better diet, more heating, lots of prescriptions - and when you add it all up it's expensive. Fighting cancer is hard enough without the terrible financial worry that comes with it.'
Macmillan believes prescription charges are a tax on illness and should be abolished in England.
To join Macmillan's campaign visit www.macmillan.org.uk/campaigns
For further information, please contact:
Rebecca Openshaw, Press Office, Macmillan Cancer Support
Tel: 020 7840 4699 (out of hours 07801 307068)
Email: ropenshaw@macmillan.org.uk
About Macmillan's prescription charges campaign:
1. In a recent online survey of 477 cancer patients by Macmillan:
Nearly half (44 per cent) of cancer patients said they've had to cut back on essential items like food or heating to pay for the cost of a prescription
Nearly two thirds (59 per cent) cancer patients said they have had to cut back on leisure activities like evenings out, days out with family, or holidays to pay for the cost of a prescription
2. Improvements in cancer treatment over the past few decades mean cancer patients are increasingly using drugs for years after initial cancer treatment has ended. For example patients are expected to take Tamoxifen for 5 to 10 years after initial treatment ends to help prevent a recurrence of cancer. This places a far higher cost on the patient and effectively charges them for life-extending treatment.
3. Macmillan first started campaigning for a fairer deal on prescription charges for cancer patients back in Summer 2005.
4. The Government agreed to a public consultation on prescription charges policy in England on 23 July 2007.
5. Prescription charges have been scrapped in Wales, capped in Northern Ireland and are being phased out in Scotland.
About Macmillan Cancer Support:
Macmillan Cancer Support improves the lives of people affected by cancer, providing practical, medical, emotional and financial support. Working alongside people affected by cancer, Macmillan works to improve cancer care. One in three of us will get cancer. Two million of us are living with it. If you are affected by cancer Macmillan can help.
For more information about Macmillan Cancer Support, visit www.macmillan.org.uk or freephone 0800 500 800 for an information pack.