Cancer ‘more expensive than raising a child’

CANCER costs more than having a child, new research suggests.

The study by Macmillan Cancer Support found the financial impact of the disease – the combination of lost income and extra outgoings, such as travel to hospital appointments – amounts to £5,380 a year.

The figure is almost £1,500 more than the estimated annual costs of bringing up a child, according to local government surveys.

The charity is calling on the Government to introduce a legal duty of care for the banking sector to help vulnerable customers.

This could include flexibility on mortgage payments, interest freezes on credit cards and loans, or ensuring customers are signposted to financial help. Lynda Thomas, the charity’s chief executive said too many cancer sufferers were left in penury at a time when they were already under extreme stress.

“Cancer does not wait until you get a promotion at work or until you have enough savings,” she said. “It arrives unexpectedly, shaking up everything from your health to your finances. Without the right support, the sudden financial impact of the disease can be crippling.”