A Quarter of UK Cancer Patients are Isolated Every Year
UK cancer patients are refusing treatment as they lack the right emotional or practical support, according to Macmillan Cancer Support.
In their ‘Facing the Fight Alone’ report, released today as part of an ongoing campaign, this leading charity discovered that 23% of the 325,000 recently diagnosed cancer patients in the UK will be lacking in support from family and friends during their treatment and recovery. About a third of this 23%, an estimated 20,000 people per year, will not receive any help and will have to fight cancer alone.
This research also revealed that 53% of health professionals have patients who have refused treatment as a result of the lack of support from family and friends. Following this, 89% of health professionals believe that this lack of support can lead to a poorer quality of life, 54% feel that it will result in poorer treatment decisions while 56% state that it will bring about a shorter life expectancy.
The harmful effects of this lack of support are extensive as 53% of the affected patients have skipped meals or not eaten properly as a result of this isolation during a difficult treatment and recovery time. 60% have not been able to carry out household chores while 27% have been unable to wash themselves properly.
Chief Executive of Macmillan Cancer Support Ciarán Devane said, “This research shows that isolation can have a truly shattering impact on people living with cancer. Patients are going hungry, missing medical appointments and even deciding to reject treatment altogether which could be putting their lives at risk — all because of a lack of support.
“But these figures are just the tip of the iceberg. As the number of people living with cancer is set to double from two to four million by 2030, isolation will become an increasing problem and we need to address this now. That’s why we are launching a new campaign to help tackle this crisis and to ensure that in future, no-one faces cancer alone.”
Patients might also find it difficult to manage their own care, as a result of this isolation, with this research demonstrating that 11% have missed appointments to visit the hospital or GP. Additionally, 18% were unable to pick up the prescriptions for their medication. 12% of the surveyed individuals living with cancer mentioned that they did not have a single visit from family or friends for over half a year. 80% of these people state that they cannot afford to visit their loved ones due to the financial impact of cancer.
In terms of tackling of this issue in the future, General Manager for Macmillan Cancer Support for Wales Susan Morris said, “One of the things we were pleased to see in the Welsh Government’s Cancer Delivery Plan was a commitment to person-centred care and it was acknowledged that people don’t just need treatment but also need broader care in terms of practical, emotional and financial support.
One thing we want to happen is that when a person is diagnosed with cancer, they get a full assessment of their needs, which range from emotional support to practical help. We want to make that standard process. It’s early days and it’s work in progress and there are places where this is happening but there is still much to do.”