Cancer jeopardises home ownership

Cancer sufferers not only face continual worries about their health but now additional worries about their homes and repossessions, according to one health charity.

MacMillan Cancer Support, which supports people with the illness, claims that six per cent of people lose their homes after being diagnosed with cancer and a further 18 per cent have difficulties in keeping up with mortgages or rental payments.

Self-employed people especially suffer with one in nine losing their homes after cancer diagnosis. This is due to incomes falling once time is taken off from work and it becoming increasingly difficult then to keep up with payments.

Peter Cardy, chief executive officer of the charity, said: "These figures show that, 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 would like to see all patients given specialist benefits advice and financial help after being diagnosed with cancer."


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