New research out this week shows one in seventeen (6%) people lose their home after being diagnosed with cancer and one in six (18%) have difficulties in keeping up with their mortgage or rental payments.  

For those with cancer who are self-employed, the figure is higher still with one in nine (11%) losing their home, according to Macmillan Cancer Support, who say over 250,000 people are diagnosed with cancer in the UK each year.

Through cancer, as many as 45,000 people each year are struggling to keep a roof over their heads and 15,000 have lost their homes. Macmillan’s chief executive Peter Cardy argues understanding by mortgage companies and provision of financial advice to sufferers could make a big difference. “This is shocking,” he said. “Having cancer should not cost you your home.”

After being diagnosed with cancer, people often face a drop in income, or lose it altogether, at the same time as they face a number of extra costs including prescription charges, hospital parking costs, special diets or high fuel bills. These financial pressures can lead to people struggling or falling behind with their rental or mortgage payments.

Deborah Soesan from Coventry was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2003. She is married with five children. Deborah had to give up her job after being diagnosed. Then her husband lost his job. They have had to take two mortgage breaks already and may have to take a further one. They have also had to change their mortgage from an endowment to an interest only one and she doesn’t know how they’ll ever manage to pay off the debt. “When you’ve been diagnosed with cancer, your main thing is to survive. Then as you start to recover, you encounter all these money problems. You feel like you are being punished. It’s harder than all the other stuff you have to go through.”

The picture is worse for some

Figures also reveal that:

• Some 28% of cancer patients with children (under 18 years old) have difficulties keeping up payments compared to 15% of those without children.
• 25% of people aged 35-44 years find repayments a problem compared to 6% of those over 65 years old.

“These figures really hit home, said Cardy. “Too many people are facing overwhelming financial pressures at a time when they are fighting cancer – borrowing money, moving in with family, selling up or moving to help make ends meet. Some even face repossession.”

Gerard Murphy from Rochdale was diagnosed with leukaemia in March 2005. He and his wife couldn’t afford to pay the mortgage after he had to give up work and Amanda, his wife, gave up work to become his carer. They spent all their savings on their mortgage and fell behind with their payments. Their mortgage lender was not understanding and threatened to repossess their home. Finally their benefits came through, and now they are paying the interest only on their mortgage. “We have had a terrible time; we never imaged that things could get so bad – being threatened with repossession is really the last ordeal you need when you are ill,” said Mr Murphy.

Macmillan is running a new campaign called Hitting Home to focus attention on the issues and you can help in a number of ways, such as by writing to your local newspaper for example. A range of suggestions to help is available on www.macmillan.org.uk/abetterdeal

People affected by cancer and concerned about loosing their home or needing financial help can call the Macmillan campaign line free on 0800 500 800 or visit www.macmillan.org.uk/abetterdeal