The financial impact of breast cancer, and where to get support with it

Breast cancer treatment brings a financial strain that gets far less attention than the illness itself, and it lands at exactly the point when someone has the least capacity to deal with it. This affects patients, and often the people caring for them, at every income level.

Where the financial pressure comes from

Time off for surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy often means a real loss of income, on top of the treatment itself. Multiple periods of sick leave can put job security under pressure just when it is needed least, and some people end up on temporary disability benefits regardless of how secure their job felt before diagnosis.

Returning to work

A return to work can be a genuinely positive step, helping someone regain a sense of normal life. It works best when planned properly: a conversation with occupational health, HR and your manager about a phased return, or other reasonable adjustments, before you are back full-time. Employers have a duty to make reasonable adjustments during this period, and it is worth knowing that going in.

Some people decide not to return at all, either for health reasons or because the experience has changed how they think about work. That decision also has financial consequences worth understanding in advance: giving up work permanently can mean giving up pension contributions and other job-related benefits, so it is worth speaking to HR or occupational health about what is available, including the possibility of retiring early on health grounds, before making the decision final.

Getting independent advice

If you are considering stopping work, independent advice from the Citizens Advice Bureau, a trade union, or an employment solicitor can clarify your rights before you commit to anything.

Where to find support

• Macmillan Cancer Support has detailed guidance on how cancer and its treatment can affect employment and finances, and a benefits adviser service.

• Breast Cancer Now runs discussion forums where patients and their families can talk to others who have been through the same practical decisions.

• Citizens Advice offers free, independent advice on benefits, debt and employment rights.

If the financial and emotional strain are both weighing on you, talking to someone about the emotional side does not require you to have the financial side sorted first.