| Cancer affects more people than the sufferer | | | | it's normally better to go to a specialist |
| alone. Although they bare the brunt of the | | | | who is prepared to look into your individual |
| physical pain, their suffering has a huge | | | | circumstances in detail and evaluate the |
| affect on friends and family too, which can | | | | situation. |
| be very distressing. It's therefore not | | | | |
| surprising that in addition to cancer help | | | | It's not just financial information that |
| groups for sufferers themselves, many forms | | | | cancer sufferers and their friends and family |
| of support for friends and families of cancer | | | | need. Often, there is a great desire for more |
| sufferers have also risen up. Help is | | | | knowledge of the condition itself. People |
| available in a range of mediums; self help | | | | want to know as much as they can about what's |
| groups, one on one councillors, phone lines, | | | | happening to them, what is likely to happen |
| internet forums and traditional publications | | | | to them in the future, and how they can do |
| such as books and leaflets. | | | | things to help themselves. |
| | | | |
| Cancer tends to have more than just emotional | | | | Thankfully, the world is awash with books, |
| implications; the cost of cancer can be very | | | | magazines, journals and websites about every |
| substantial, especially if the sufferer is a | | | | type of cancer that exists. There are also |
| bread winner. However, help is at hand as | | | | cancer support information centres throughout |
| there are benefits that sufferers and their | | | | the UK which you can visit in person to speak |
| families can apply for. The Disability and | | | | to specialists and pick up leaflets, booklets |
| Carers Service is a government body that is | | | | and audio-visual materials. |
| responsible for the disability benefits, | | | | |
| disability livings allowance and attendance | | | | Cancer can be very tough for all involved, |
| allowance and also carer's allowance, and | | | | but remember there is help available to you |
| there are help lines which you can ring to | | | | every step of the way. From the medical help |
| see whether you qualify for financial help. | | | | you'll receive at the hospital, to the |
| | | | emotional support you can get from phoning a |
| These help lines will also be able to offer | | | | help line or attending a self help group, to |
| advice on other financial matters such as | | | | the help available online when you log on to |
| insurance. As cancer is considered a | | | | a cancer sufferers' forum and share your |
| pre-existing medical condition by most | | | | problems with hundreds of people who are |
| insurers, getting travel insurance from a | | | | going through the same thing, help, support |
| normal broker can be difficult. Therefore, | | | | and advice is always there. |