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Published 30 May 2025
7 min read
Money Wellness backs campaign to tackle hidden toll of cancer recovery
1 June is Cancer Survivors Day, a time to recognise and celebrate the courage and resilience of those who have faced cancer and come through the other side.
Written by: Gabrielle Pickard Whitehead
Lead financial content writer
Published: 30 May 2025
But surviving cancer doesn’t mean the struggle ends.
Mission Remission, a grassroots charity, has released a new report shedding light on the ongoing challenges cancer survivors face.
The report highlights the increased risk of poverty among those who have survived cancer.
Life after treatment
Mission Remission surveyed 1,230 cancer survivors and carried out 95 in-depth case studies. It found:
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93% still face physical or mental challenges long after treatment
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75% struggle to return to work
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even 10+ years after diagnosis, 67% still experience work and financial setbacks
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66% report a significant drop in income after returning to work
The ‘system isn’t working’
The findings show systemic failures in how we support cancer survivors.
That’s why Mission Remission is pushing for real change through its ‘End the Cancer Toll’ campaign, including:
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tailored counselling support post-treatment
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a five-year benefits pause after returning to work with an automatic reinstatement if illness reoccurs
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a stronger, simpler financial safety net
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better training for benefits advisers on cancer’s long-term effects
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public awareness campaigns around critical illness cover
What we witness at Money Wellness
Our own data on cancer survivors backs up Mission Remission’s findings:
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82% tell us about other challenges:
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53% live with mental health concerns
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55% report other illnesses
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21% live with physical disabilities
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86% rely on benefits, with almost half depending on benefits alone
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income is, on average, £60 lower, while utility costs are £15 higher a month than average
Craig’s story
When Craig* first came to us for help, we were able to support him by setting up a debt management plan (DMP). This meant we dealt with his creditors on his behalf, and he was able to repay his debts at a rate he could afford.
However, he was then hit with a stage 4 cancer diagnosis. Once his sick and holiday pay ran out, his employer ended his contract. This meant he started to struggle to keep up with his DMP payments.
After he informed us of his cancer diagnosis, we were able to help Craig get his debt written off. Medical write-off isn’t guaranteed in any situation, but in his case, all ten lenders agreed without hesitation. Craig had £25,000 of debt written off in total.
This case highlights how cancer can affect people’s finances for an extended period of time.
Cancer forced Craig to stop work in July 2023, he informed us of the diagnosis the following February as he was still struggling financially, and we started the process of applying for medical write-off in May.
By August, over a year since his diagnosis, all his debts were written off because he continued to face financial hardship, and there was no prospect of his situation improving in the near future.
Long-term financial hardship like this is not uncommon among cancer survivors, but, unfortunately, the support and compassion shown to Craig isn’t always extended to people once their treatment ends.
What needs to change?
We support Mission Remission’s campaign because we’ve witnessed this gap in support firsthand.
Survivors often feel abandoned, navigating a complex benefits system that’s not designed for people still recovering from trauma.
Sebrina McCullough, our director of external relations, explains how cancer doesn’t stop when the chemotherapy or radiotherapy ends.
“Recovery is often a long and exhausting journey and for many, the financial pressure only grows. When someone receives a terminal diagnosis, creditors will sometimes agree to write off debts. However, we see far less understanding shown to those still living with the after effects of cancer, whether that’s fatigue, pain, mental health concerns or ongoing complications.”
She continued that the benefits system, as it stands, simply isn’t set up to meet the needs of cancer survivors.
“It’s complex, challenging to navigate, and overwhelming, especially for someone who’s unwell, newly diagnosed, or recovering from treatment. People are often expected to provide detailed medical evidence and jump through endless hoops, even when they're still in recovery. For many, it's too much to cope with - and that’s assuming they even know what support they're entitled to.
McCullough added that Mission Remission’s call for urgent reform is one that Money Wellness echoes.
“Cancer may no longer be visible on the outside, but its impact continues; physically, emotionally, and financially. We need a more compassionate system that recognises the long-term reality of recovery and offers people a genuine chance to rebuild their lives without fear of falling into poverty.”
*Some personal details have been changed to protect our customer’s privacy
Written by: Gabrielle Pickard Whitehead
Lead financial content writer
Gabrielle is an experienced journalist, who has been writing about personal finance and the economy for over 17 years. She specialises in social and economic equality, welfare and government policy, with a strong focus on helping readers stay informed about the most important issues affecting financial security.
Published: 30 May 2025
The information in this post was correct at the time of publishing. Please check when it was written, as information can go out of date over time.
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Written by: Gabrielle Pickard Whitehead
Lead financial content writer
Published: 30 May 2025