GRIMACING as he eats a mouthful of cold baked beans, John Hughes can’t afford to warm up his dinner because there’s only a few pounds left on his energy meter.
The 56 year-old from Kings Heath, Birmingham is one of many cancer sufferers struggling to cope with surging bills.
2
2
“It’s been so bad that I’ve thought about ending it all. I don’t know how much more I can take,” he said.
“I get up, have a wash and some days I just want to go back to bed, but I force myself to keep going.
“It’s disgusting having to eat cold tinned food. It tastes and feels vile.
“I’ll be screwing my face up just trying to swallow it.
“I’ve eaten beans, spaghetti hoops, mushy peas and even cold tins of beef in gravy.”
Charities have warned that the cost of living crisis is having a devastating impact on cancer patients like John.
Macmillan Cancer Support said its advisers are making more referrals to food banks than ever before.
Others patients are being forced to live in freezing homes while undergoing chemotherapy, which the charity said could have a negative impact on their recovery.
Most read in Money
“I can’t afford to be in the house all day, so sometimes I’ll walk for two and a half hours,” said John
“I get ever so cold, I really do, particularly my hands and feet.
“I should be focusing on getting well, but instead I’m more worried about the cost of living.”
John has also cut back on using his washing machine because he’s so worried about the cost.
Before his diagnosis, he earned £900 a week as a telehandler working on construction sites, but now lives on £900 a month in disability benefits.
John has been relying on food banks and support from the cancer charity Help Harry to Help Others, which has covered some of the bills he has been unable to pay.
He said: “The help has been a godsend, but I was so ashamed when I had to use the foodbank and it broke my heart to apply for benefits.
“I used to be the one giving to charity, but now I’m on the other side of it.
“When the doctors told me that I might never be able to return to work I sat there and cried.”
‘I have to live without heating’
His plight is mirrored by 56 year-old Ruth, a life coach from Norfolk, who went through treatment for breast cancer during the pandemic.
“I now have to live without heating, constantly wearing my dressing gown, hat and gloves, and getting under the duvet to keep warm,” she said.
“Going through chemo during lockdown, physically and mentally wiped me out.
“Now I’m at a breaking point having to deal with the skyrocketing cost of living.
“My wifi and phone bill have gone up £20 this month and with petrol being so expensive, I’m losing out on social contact.
“I’m having to stay at home as much as possible and not use the car unless it’s an essential journey.
Ruth said she’s had to cash in savings that were meant for her retirement and now feels like she is “running out of options” for covering her bills.
“The support I’ve received from Citizens Advice and Macmillan Cancer Support has been a lifeline, but I am extremely worried about what the future holds.
“The financial pressures on top just add another layer of stress and worry.”
An exclusive poll conducted by Macmillan Cancer Support for The Sun found nine in ten cancer patients are having to cope with increased bills since December, leaving many unable to afford food or heat.
Statistics compiled exclusively for Macmillan Cancer Support by polling firm YouGov show that 80% of the UK’s three million cancer sufferers have seen the cost of food increase.
Another 76% are coping with higher energy costs and 74% are paying more for petrol and diesel.
Heating or eating
Christopher Jones, energy team leader on the support line at Macmillian, said: “People living with cancer are facing a triple whammy with the extra costs a cancer diagnosis can bring, on top of the financial impact of Covid-19 and spiralling cost of living.
“We used to hear about people choosing between eating and heating, but now we are hearing from people who can’t afford either.
“This is causing a huge amount of stress and anxiety for many people with cancer, who need to live, not just survive.
“We are urging anyone worried about money to access the variety of support available from Macmillan’s specially trained teams.”
Those comments were echoed by Georgie Moseley, who launched the Help Harry Help Others charity after her 11-year-old son, Harry died from a brain tumour in October 2011.
“We have families who come to us on a daily basis worried about losing their homes, needing help to pay funeral costs, heating and electricity bills, or even requiring food vouchers, because a cancer diagnosis means they can’t work due to ill health or because they are caring for a loved one,” she said.
“The majority of people we see have no idea they can access any type of financial support.
“With my son Harry, I had no help when it came to my finances.
“I was at the hospital three days a week, so I couldn’t work meaning the financial implications were massive.
“I’m devastated that more than 10 years on, families are still facing the same struggles.
“People have to be made aware of the financial aid they are entitled to as soon as they are diagnosed, whether that be information given in a hospital, or a call signposting them.”
The charity’s Birmingham drop-in centre offers support with debt, benefits, housing and council tax advice, as well as emotional and practical support to anyone affected by cancer.
How to get help with bills
While many households are struggling with the cost of living, you might qualify for extra help with bills.
Some charities are offering up to £750 free cash and vouchers, while a number of energy providers have hardship funds for those who are struggling.
Those on Universal Credit can claim help from schemes including £150 from the Warm Home Discount.
Grants of up to £1,500 are available from the British Gas Energy Trust for those in arrears.
Households in Council Tax bands A to D will get a rebate of £150 to help ease the squeeze and there will also be a £200 refund on energy bills coming in October.
We pay for your stories!
Do you have a story for The Sun Online Money team?
