Cancer patients look to grants for help with new clothes (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Cancer patients look to grants for help with new clothes

4:50pm Wednesday 4th July 2012 in News By Rachel Ryan

Desperate cancer patients in Cumbria are relying on charity handouts because they cannot afford the new clothes they need, according to Macmillan Cancer Support.

More than 40 per cent of cancer patients who received a Macmillan grant in the last 12 months in Cumbria needed it to help pay for clothing.

The cancer support charity has dished out one-off payments totalling £13,412 to 105 cancer patients in Cumbria , which primarily used it to purchase a new wardrobe of outfits after a flucuation in weight or body shape due to the effects of cancer, treatment, or following surgery.

Ciarán Devane, Chief Executive at Macmillan Cancer Support, said: “The sheer number of cancer patients turning to Macmillan for help towards clothing highlights just how much they struggle financially. Clothing is one of a number of hidden costs cancer patients are burdened with at a time when, on average, their income halves and their outgoings rocket.

“Patients already have to deal with the physical changes to their bodies – they shouldn’t have the added stress of not being able to afford new clothes. We urge any cancer patients who are struggling financially to contact our helpline to find what support is available to them.”