People living with cancer suffer panic over Covid-19
Thousands of Scottish people with cancer are living in fear of Covid-19, according to research by a health charity.
Macmillan Cancer Support said there is widespread anxiety and panic among those suffering from cancer, with many being too afraid to leave their home.
Around 38,000 people with cancer in Scotland – 15 per cent of those with the disease here – have barely left the house because they are scared about catching the virus or are generally anxious about going outside, the charity said.
Its research found around 10,000 people with cancer have not left the house at all since the start of lockdown and say they will not feel safe enough to do so until there is a vaccine or zero new cases being reported.
An estimated 13,000 have experienced panic or anxiety attacks because of Covid-19, some 30 per cent feel stressed, anxious or depressed, and 9 per cent of those with the disease in Scotland – around 24,000 people – have seen their mental health worsen.
The charity is now calling on the Scottish Government to “urgently deliver on its plan to restart cancer services”.
Melissa Mcnaughton, 31, a blood cancer patient from Glasgow, said: “I’ve never had anxiety but being in lockdown has made me so nervous and anxious to leave my flat, even for fresh air.
“I’ve had a couple of panic attacks and I’ve felt so trapped. Usually if I’m anxious or nervous about something I will go for a walk or a drive but I’ve not been able to do that. It’s been horrible.”
The research also found around 33,000 people with cancer in Scotland have experienced sleep problems, fatigue, or pain during lockdown.
Adrienne Chaplin, 70, from Edinburgh, is currently having treatment for breast cancer.
She said: “I’ve found the lockdown very, very hard. I feel like I’m in the twilight zone. Like I’m not really part of the world.
“For the first time in three months I went for a walk on my street with my son and spoke to a few neighbours from a distance.”
Janice Preston, Macmillan’s head of services in Scotland, said: “On top of the usual worries, many patients are also dealing with uncertainty around treatment, shielding restrictions and isolation from loved ones, as well as concerns about their risk of contracting the virus.
“The government must urgently deliver on its plan to get the cancer care system back on track, including an explicit recognition of the importance of ensuring people are still offered emotional and practical help.”
A Scottish Government spokesman said: “The postponement or delay of some cancer treatments, knowing the profound impact that would have on so many people, was one of the most difficult aspects of dealing with Covid-19. We are working with the NHS and stakeholders to consider how services can be resumed as quickly and as safely as possible.”