Devastating cuts will leave people “cold and lonely” this Christmas says UK cancer charity

Thousands of people with cancer will feel “cold and lonely” this Christmas because they do not have enough money to celebrate or heat their homes, a charity has warned.

Almost 170,000 people in Britain with cancer are unable to join in special family events such as Christmas due to a lack of cash, according to Macmillan Cancer Support. Its survey of almost 1,000 people living with cancer also found 9% said they had to miss out on visiting family and friends as they could not afford it.

Other research of more than 1,600 people who have been in touch with Macmillan found 28% were unable to adequately heat their home in winter due to money worries. Cancer patients are more likely to feel the cold.

The charity has previously found that four in five (83%) people with cancer are on average £570 (€800) a month worse off as a result of their diagnosis. Reasons include being too ill to work plus costs, such as transport to hospital appointments, new clothes for a changing body shape and heating bills.

Macmillan said the British government must rethink its plan on welfare, which it said would take £30 a week away from people too ill to work.

Chief executive Lynda Thomas said: “It’s heartbreaking that people who are going through cancer, which is likely to be one of the most difficult times of their life, are also having to wake up on Christmas day in the cold, alone, without being able to have Christmas dinner or buy presents for loved ones.

“Having cancer is an isolating time and being cut off financially because of a diagnosis makes life even harder. People with cancer can lose hundreds of pounds each month because of diagnosis.

“It is incomprehensible the government is pressing ahead with proposals to cut benefits of people with cancer medically assessed as unable to work by around £30 a week. This will make life even more difficult.”