Cancer costs patients their homes

charley · 12-14-2006, 03:46 AM

A Macmillan Cancer Support survey of 1,751 patients found 6% lost their home following their diagnosis. The figure rose to 11% among the self-employed.

Another 18% had difficulties keeping up rent or mortgage payments, the survey found.

Not only can a cancer diagnosis make it hard to work, but it can also mean extra fuel, food, drug and hospital parking bills.

The survey found cancer patients with children were most likely to be affected.

Almost a third (28%) of cancer patients with children under 18 had difficulties keeping up with payments compared with 15% of those without.

A quarter (25%) of patients aged 35 to 44 found repayments a problem compared with 6% of those aged over 65.

Peter Cardy, Macmillan chief executive, said the findings were "shocking".

Financial pressures

He said the survey suggested that as many as 45,000 cancer patients each year struggled to keep a roof over their heads - and 15,000 lost their homes.

He said: "Having cancer should not cost you your home.

"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."

The charity wants to see all cancer patients given access to specialist benefits advice and financial help.

It has launched a new "Hitting Home" campaign to help patients check their insurance policies, talk to their mortgage lender and get advice on claiming benefits.

Hard to cope

Deborah Soesan, from Coventry, was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2003. She is married with five children.

She 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.

Deborah admits she doesn't know how they will ever manage to pay off the debt.

She said: "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."

Paula and Stephen Tansley, from Colchester, have also struggled to keep their house.

Paul gave up work to look after Stephen, who was diagnosed with leukaemia.

He was made redundant from his work after being diagnosed.

They found it difficult to keep up with their mortgage payments and have taken their case to court.

They have managed to negotiate that they pay the interest only on their mortgage.

However, they are still having trouble in keeping up with their payments.

Each year over 250,000 people are diagnosed with cancer in the UK.

waltky · 09-01-2008, 03:16 AM

Blocking cancer growth...

Hopes raised for block on cancer
Sunday, 31 August 2008 - Scientists say they have taken a big step towards blocking a chemical vital to the growth of many cancers.

Quote:

They have unpicked the structure of telomerase, an enzyme which, when active, helps keep cells in an "immortal" state. The chemical is at work in more than nine out of ten types of tumour. Researchers from Philadelphia's Wistar Institute, writing in the journal Nature, say their efforts could lead to drugs which switch it off. All cells in the body have a natural clock - the telomeres - which shorten every time the cell divides. "The idea is that you could convert immortal cancer cells back into mortal ones by blocking telomerase in this way"- Professor Rob Newbold, Brunel University

After a fixed number of divisions in most cells, the telomeres are reduced to a certain length, and the cell cannot continue dividing. This change is responsible for changes within the ageing body, as cell division slows down. Some cells, such as stem cells within the embryo, use the chemical telomerase to maintain telomere length. Many tumours have hijacked the telomerase system to fuel their uninhibited growth. The Wistar team has found a new way to map the structure of the most active part of the chemical.

'Few side effects'

Dr Emmanuel Skordalakes said that this detailed picture would help provide molecular targets for drugs. "Telomerase is an ideal target for chemotherapy because it is active in almost all human tumours, but inactive in most normal cells. "That means that a drug that deactivates telomerase would likely work against all cancers, with few side effects."

Professor Rob Newbold, from Brunel University in Uxbridge, said it was a "very important" achievement. "Telomerase controls the evolution of cancers - and is a key characteristic of human cancer cells. "The idea is that you could convert immortal cancer cells back into mortal ones by blocking telomerase in this way. "Having discovered the structure now, it will certainly help the development of drugs."

BBC NEWS | Health | Hopes raised for block on cancer

happydarnk · 09-03-2008, 09:54 AM

The cancer patient have great difficulty making ends meet and most often end up selling their homes according to a survey conducted in Ireland. The study included 1,751 people.//

People diagnosed with cancer experience loss of income, as they are unable to report to work regularly and at the same time face a number of extra costs, as a result end up selling their homes.

The Macmillan cancer Support research indicated that almost 20% had difficulties in keeping up with their mortgage or rental payments. About 6 % lost their homes. Even11% of those who were self-employed, said they had lost their home.