Some cancer patients are dying in cold homes due to financial stress – Irish Cancer Society

Two-thirds of the nurses surveyed by the Irish Cancer Society said their patients struggled to afford home heating. Picture: iStock

Patients with terminal cancer are dying in unheated homes due to high energy costs and a lack of financial support from the State, new research from the Irish Cancer Society has found. 

One in three nurses providing end-of-life care to cancer patients in homes across the country say they have experienced houses without any heating, according to the research.

Two-thirds of nurses surveyed said their patients struggled to afford home heating, with 46% reporting that there was no central heating in the homes they were working in. 

The research, carried out by a team led by Suzanne Denieffe of South East Technological University (SETU), found that 64% of nurses reported observing damp conditions in houses of those receiving end-of-life care, while an additional 50% of nurses spotted mould in the premises.

Cork ARC Cancer Support House general manager Catriona O'Mahony said: 'For some patients and families, the additional costs incurred can be substantial.' Picture: Brian Lougheed

An additional 70% observed condensation in the homes of these cancer patients, which can pose a physical risk to vulnerable patients.

Meanwhile, three in five nurses reported households had difficulty paying bills like mortgage, rent, and utilities.

Cork ARC Cancer Support House general manager Catriona O’Mahony said the results came as no surprise, with her service regularly encountering patients who are experiencing increased financial strain after their cancer diagnosis.

The increased costs associated with medical bills and medications, coupled with travel expenses from attending hospital appointments, can cause severe financial pressure for individuals, Ms O’Mahony explained.

“Increased utility bills are also common because patients undergoing treatment, or recuperating from surgery, are at home more often than before diagnosis. For some patients and families, the additional costs incurred can be substantial,” she said.

Irish Cancer Society CEO Averil Power described this reality as “absolutely heartbreaking”, adding: 

The very least we should be able to provide to someone with a terminal illness like cancer, is comfort.

“Imagine at the end of life you are wrapped up in blankets with a hot water bottle because you don’t have household heating?

“Imagine the distress you would feel as the loved one of a terminally ill person when you struggle to pay the heating bill? Unfortunately, this is the reality for some,” she added.

The charity has called upon the Government for “targeted financial supports” to help with these rising costs associated with cancer treatment, including the introduction of the household benefits package, fuel allowance payment, and the additional needs payment for those battling cancer.

“Each year, more than 9,000 people die from cancer in Ireland," Ms Power said.

All anybody wants is for their loved one to be comfortable and to live well at the end of life. 

"The end result of ignoring these calls is cancer patients dying in cold homes." 

Ms Denieffe, research lead and head of the school of humanities at SETU, stressed the importance of enabling patients to have a good quality of life as they near the end.

“Our research sheds light on the hidden costs of cancer often experienced in the privacy of a person’s home. Now, we must bring this conversation into the public domain to highlight the needs of people living with a life-limiting cancer.”