Counting the cost of cancer in Wales

The Welsh Government’s Cancer Delivery Plan, published in June 2012, made a commitment to routinely offer the opportunity to access financial advice and support as part of the care assessment and planning process for everyone diagnosed with cancer.

Macmillan welcomed this but 3 years on, patients are not routinely being referred to welfare benefits advice services they need. The results of the All-Wales Cancer Patient Experience Survey, show more than half of patients had not been given enough information about how to access welfare benefits services. In addition to this, our analysis of Health Boards’ Cancer Delivery Plans shows none of them have mentioned how they plan to meet this requirement.

We are currently calling on Government and Health Boards to work together, and with organisations like Macmillan, to ensure this commitment is implemented consistently across Wales.

In 2014, Macmillan Welfare Benefits Advisers based in Wales, helped nearly 3000 people affected by cancer claim more than £13 million in benefits. They also made a huge contribution to ensuring more than £725,000 was accessed in Macmillan grants by people living in Wales.

• 2014 – Welfare Benefits claimed £13,357,624.40
• 2014 – Amount accessed in Macmillan grants £725,000

"Financial issues are just a massive problem for patients. And the more I worked in the clinics, the more the consultants have seen the work that I’ve done and they’ve certainly seen it in a positive light so it’s just gone from strength to strength."

- Owen Duggan, Macmillan WBA

Having cancer is expensive. One in five people have problems paying their bills, rent or mortgage. It shouldn't be like this, but these are the facts. Read more about the cost of cancer in Wales in the sections below.

The increased costs associated with a cancer diagnosis are likely to take up a large proportion of a person's income. 

Household bills can dramatically add up after a diagnosis. Fuel bills can escalate as patients are at home more than usual and more likely to feel the cold during treatment.

We have outlined the additional costs faced by people with cancer, in Wales, over a five-year period following diagnosis:

• Newport, Torfaen, Caerphilly, Cardiff, Merthyr Tydfil, Rhondda Cynon Taff, Vale of Glamorgan, Bridgend, Neath Port Talbot, Swansea, Carmarthenshire, Denbighshire and Flintshire faced increased costs of between £1,000-£1,500.
• Monmouthshire, Blaenau Gwent, Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion, Gwynedd, Isle of Anglesey, Conwy and Wrexham faced increased costs of between £1,501-£2,00. None faced increased costs of between £2,001-£2,500.
• Powys faced increased costs of between £2,501-£3,000.

Loss of income is one of the greatest financial issues for people diagnosed with cancer.

The income of a spouse or partner might also be affected if they need to give up work or reduce their hours in order to care for someone.

We have outlined below, the loss of income for people with cancer, in Wales, over a five-year period after diagnosis:

• Blaenau Gwent, Ceredigion, Powys and Conwy faced a loss of income of between £14,000-£15,000.
• Monmouthshire, Merthyr Tydfil, Rhondda Cynon Taff, Swansea and Conwy faced a loss of income of between £15,001 and £16,000.
• Newport, Torfaen, Caerphilly, Neath Port Talbot, Carmarthenshire, Isle of Anglesey and Wrexham faced a loss of income of between £16,001 and £17,000.
• Pembrokeshire, Denbighshire and Flintshire faced a loss of income of between £17,001 - £18,000.
• Vale of Glamorgan faced a loss of income of between £18,001 - £19,000.

The research displayed above is from work by The Monitor Group for Macmillan.

If you want to find out more you can read our Counting the Cost of Cancer campaign report [PDF], which gives an easy to digest overview of the research. Or you can read the full report from the Monitor Group - Cancer Poverty in Wales [2.4MB, PDF].

We are interested in hearing from those who feel that they haven't received adequate financial help while living with cancer. We also want to hear about any help you have received.

Email us at walescampaigns@macmillan.org.uk