Frome-based cancer counselling charity We Hear You (WHY) has contributed to a new piece of research by the University of Exeter into the negative financial impact of a cancer diagnosis and the potential barriers to accessing emotional support.
The research was undertaken by Dr Felicity Thomas and Dr Lorraine Hansford from the University of Exeter, with the collaboration of We Hear You and counselling organisations The Harbour in Bristol and Wessex Cancer Trust in Hampshire. A series of focus groups and telephone interviews took place during 2018 to gather evidence for the project. Participants were asked about the impact of cancer on their financial situation, social networks and self-esteem and how easily they found out about the support available to them.
The need to take time off work for cancer treatment and the cost of transport were common factors in the increased financial hardship reported by respondents. Those on zero hours contracts or the self-employed found this especially challenging. In addition to struggling to meet basic needs, people could not afford to pay for leisure activities which might provide distraction or improve emotional well-being. One participant felt there was a stigma attached to having had cancer which had permanently damaged their career, with a long-term impact on income as well as self-esteem.
As half of those diagnosed with cancer now survive for ten years or more[i] and the number of people ‘living with and beyond’ cancer is set to reach 4million by 2030, the potential for long-term financial disadvantage following a cancer diagnosis is significant and growing.
The research strongly indicated the value of emotional support through counselling or informal support in groups. As one respondent said ‘This lady from WHY, she was brilliant because she just basically listened to me and just said ‘Well, this is your space, this is your time’…what I needed really was someone to talk to but also to sort of gently point me in the right direction’.
Melissa Hillier, Director at We Hear You said, ‘Our clients often tell us how beneficial it is to talk to someone who isn’t a friend or family member and be able to speak freely without worrying about the feelings of the listener. One of the report’s findings was the importance of offering support through digital channels, which we’ve offered since 2016 through our online counselling service. We’d like to thank the researchers in Exeter for their work and will use it to inform WHY’s strategy to ensure everyone in need can access help in a way that suits them.’
To find out more or refer yourself for We Hear You’s free professional counselling service for people affected by cancer, please call 01373 455255 or email info@wehearyou.org.uk.
To read the full University of Exeter report, please see www.wehearyou. org.uk/reports/