As the Guardian’s money and consumer editor, Hilary Osborne is used to thinking about the financial consequences of every life event. But when she was diagnosed with breast cancer she assumed the cost of it would be the last thing on her mind.
Instead she discovered that being ill had hidden costs – ones that pushed many women into financial catastophe. She spoke to women such as Stevie who, because she could no longer work and was struggling to access benefits, was worried about how she would even keep herself warm during her cancer treatment. Stevie explained how money worries were taking a real emotional toll when she should be focusing on her health. Hilary also spoke to Amelia, who explained how she had to walk to her chemotherapy sessions because she could not afford to keep taking taxis.
With research from the cancer charity Macmillan showing that four in five people are, on average, £570 a month worse off as a result of a cancer diagnosis, how can patients access help? And what needs to change so that finances are not an extra worry at such a terrifying time?
Photograph: Cavan Images/Getty Images/Cavan Images RF
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