Carers of head and neck cancer patients face financial ruin, says study

Looking after someone with head and neck cancer can have huge financial consequences, with many carers unaware of how to access entitlements, a new study shows.

A paper just published in the Journal of Psycho-oncology by researchers at the National Cancer Registry also found that head and neck cancer tends to be diagnosed in older people and often in people who are from poorer backgrounds.

The study found that the financial impact often begins soon after the patient’s diagnosis, with carers having to pay for travel and commuting costs to and from hospital. They sometimes have to give up work or reduce their working hours when their relative/friend begins treatment.