Queen’s University academic’s research exposes how cancer survivors face ‘financial toxicity’ years after beating illness

Cancer survivors across Europe are facing financial discrimination that restricts access to loans and health insurance long after their recovery, new research led by a Queen’s University academic has found.

A study shows some are facing problems in accessing services including mortgages even years after being declared cancer-free, and it has boosted calls for new laws to protect survivors.

The discrimination, identified by lead researcher Professor Mark Lawler, affects up to 25% of those who have survived a cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Findings of the study have been published this week in The Lancet Oncology journal.

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When accessing financial products including life assurance, travel insurance and loans, survivors must declare their previous cancer diagnosis, despite being cured of their illness.

Up to a quarter of survivors are unable to access appropriate services as a result.

Professor Lawler said: “Our evidence of financial toxicity for cancer survivors is undeniable. Our data suggests that at a conservative estimate over a half-a-million cancer survivors in the UK may be experiencing some form of financial discrimination.

“And it may be even more. It is disgraceful that significant numbers of cancer survivors continue to be discriminated against financially.”

The academic, who is a Professor of Digital Health at QUB, said legislation to protect cancer survivors was required.

He backs the European Initiative to End Discrimination against Cancer Survivors, which supports new laws to allow survivors to not have to declare their previous diagnosis.

Some countries already have such protections, including France, which introduced a law in 2016 that meant survivors would not have to declare their diagnosis to financial institutions after five years without a recurrence of the illness.

A self-regulatory code of conduct has been introduced by the financial/insurance industries in a number of other European countries, including the Republic, but is not legally binding.

The chief executive of Cancer Focus Northern Ireland, Richard Spratt, said: “A cancer diagnosis is one of the most devastating moments anyone can experience, and the cancer journey can be relentless, with extreme physical and mental consequences for months to years on-end.

“I applaud the work of Professor Lawler and his team. Cancer patients should not be punished for one of the worst things that has ever happened to them, especially when the majority of cancer diagnoses are beyond anyone’s control.”