Study reveals 'financial toxicity' and discrimination against cancer survivors

The study, published in The Lancet Oncology and led by Professor Mark Lawler, professor of digital health at Queen’s University, shows as many as 25% of cancer survivors in Europe struggle to access appropriate financial services.

“Our evidence of financial toxicity for cancer survivors is undeniable,” said Professor Lawler.

It is disgraceful that significant numbers of cancer survivors continue to be discriminated against financially.

"While the current cost of living crisis is hard for everyone, it is so much worse for cancer survivors."

The issue of financial discrimination has garnered attention across Europe, led by the European Initiative to End Discrimination against Cancer Survivors.

The initiative is advocating for the introduction of legislation that would allow successfully treated cancer patients to avoid declaring their previous cancer diagnosis, essentially making their diagnosis "forgotten" in the eyes of financial institutions.

'Right To Be Forgotten'

France became the first country to address this issue in January 2016 by introducing the 'Right To Be Forgotten'.

The legislation says long-term cancer survivors do not have to share their cancer history with financial institutions after five years without recurrence. Since then, seven other European countries have implemented similar measures.

In several other European countries, including Ireland, a self-regulatory code of conduct has been introduced by the financial and insurance industries. However, it is not legally binding.

Cancer Focus Northern Ireland chief executive 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.

"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.

"Implementing the ‘Right To Be Forgotten’ into legislation as this article recommends offers a solution to this unjust and unsympathetic practice."

Dr Françoise Meunier, founder of the initiative and co-author of the study, said: “It is unacceptable that cancer patients must endure this financial discrimination.

Those who are living beyond their disease should not be penalised for a previous cancer diagnosis.

"Cancer patients across Europe who have been successfully treated should, by law, be able to avoid disclosing a previous diagnosis of cancer, so that they can access the financial services that they need.”