4 types of support you might want if you’re living with cancer
If you’ve had a cancer diagnosis and are in the process of treatment, it’s inevitable that you’ll worry about issues connected to your health.
- How can I afford to live with cancer?
- How are my family and friends coping with my diagnosis?
- Will I be able to stay in my own home?
- How can I look after my mental health?
Here are four things you can do to maintain your quality of life during your treatment for cancer.
Benefits
Cancer can cause a serious hit on your finances. You might find yourself working less and spending more on day-to-day expenses such as heating and electricity, or hospital travel and parking. But there are benefits you can draw on to help you through the worst of times.
If you’re of working age and on reduced hours, there are several main benefits to investigate. Universal Credit is the first port of call, as it operates as an effective top up on the hours you might be missing. Then there are various sickness benefits – your employer can provide Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) and you can also put in a claim for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). If you are drawing a pension, there is help available to top up your state pension.
You can seek help with your housing expenses. If you rent your home, you may be able to claim Housing Benefit. Homeowners on low incomes could be eligible for Council Tax support and reduction. Finally, Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPS) are there to top up your housing benefit or Universal Credit.
If you are being cared for by your family full time, they can try to claim Carer’s Allowance which is means tested and available to people on low incomes. To qualify you must be looking after someone for 35 hours a week or more. Non-relatives can also claim this benefit, but there are some provisions – for example, if more than one person helps with your care, only one of them can receive Carer’s Allowance.
Insurance
As a general rule, if you already have a life insurance policy, there’s a very good chance that it will cover terminal cancer. If you don’t have anything in place, you’re probably going to have to pay higher premiums and may struggle to be approved for cover by insurance companies.
Health insurance is similarly difficult to get if you are already diagnosed with cancer, but it’s not impossible. Your insurance should help to cover any medical costs and pay towards private treatment. Read your policy carefully because you can find some unexpected benefits, including payments towards wigs or prosthetics.
Protection insurance can also be extremely helpful for people with cancer, helping cover living costs if you are too ill to work. Check your policy to find out what your policy includes as there are many different types, including critical illness cover, income protection and mortgage payment protection.
Counselling / therapy
As well as looking after your physical health, it’s also important to treat your mental health. A cancer diagnosis frequently brings with it negative thoughts and can lead to depression and anxiety if untreated. There are a variety of options including one to one counselling, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) or group counselling. If you need advice, reach out to one of the many excellent cancer charities, including Macmillan, Marie Curie and Cancer Research UK.
There are many positive activities you can take without formal treatment. Remaining active for as long as possible will help body and mind. Established practice in yoga or meditation can be a positive way to let out emotions and improve energy levels. If you aren’t up to physical therapy, you can help yourself by sticking to a healthy diet, giving up smoking and cutting down on drinking.
If you’re not able to face therapy, there are tangible benefits to writing your feelings down in a diary or through some other creative outlet. Remember your favourite things, spend time in nature, take solace in your favourite music, or revisit some favourite movies and TV shows – they can all help you to relax and feel distracted.
Cancer affects not just the patient, but their loved ones as well. One of the most effective ways of tackling this is through family counselling which can provide a safe space for family members to talk about how they are coping with your illness. Often people will open up in a way that they might not feel able to one to one.
Family counselling also helps you. Mustering the energy to sit and talk frankly with children, parents or partners can be emotionally draining. A trained counsellor can bear much of that weight and will help to create resolutions that can bring your family closer together, impacting positively on your quality of life.
Practical support
While cancer can be a debilitating disease, it’s unlikely you will have to move to a care home, unless you have other health conditions such as dementia. There are many forms of support you can access at home, such as adaptations to make your everyday life easier. Adjustable beds and adapted furniture will allow you to live more comfortably, while intercom systems and video calling can help you stay in touch with the outside world.
A live-in carer can be a crucial part of your cancer care team, providing as much support as you need and making it possible for you to continue doing the things you love as they take on the jobs you can no longer do. Live-in carers offer round the clock care, assisting you with everyday tasks like cleaning, cooking and personal care. At Promedica24, we always try to pair our clients with carers who will best suit their needs, and you’ll find that a carer can become your dedicated companion.
More from our blog
How much does live-in care cost in the UK?
When you’re considering care, whether that be temporary respite or longer term support and assistance, there’s no getting away from the fact that cost of care will be a consideration. There are many care options out there, from short domiciliary care visits to get specific tasks like your shopping done, to one-to-one palliative hospice care. […]
Read More
7 ways to maintain your independence as you head into your 70s
One of the frustrating things about getting older is the realisation that you may no longer be able to do all the things you once could. Physical activities may become harder and energy level may wane. But that doesn’t mean it’s time to hang up your dancing shoes. It’s never too late to try out […]
Read More
World Alzheimer’s Month
In support of #WorldAlzheimersMonth this September, we want to add our voices to those organisations working hard to tackle the huge global challenge of dementia. With nearly 50 million people with dementia globally, it really is one of the largest healthcare crises we face worldwide. But having worked with experts in the field as well […]
Read More