Breast Cancer Care

Current Campaign - Prescription for change

Tuesday, 02, Dec 2008 05:31


Breast Cancer Care campaigns on behalf of people affected by breast cancer to improve the information, support and treatment they receive.

Prescription for change

“Paying for prescriptions is a huge financial burden for cancer patients, almost all of whom will require long-term treatment. It seems unreasonable and cruel to penalise people for having a life-threatening illness.” Breast cancer patient, Stirlingshire

A 2006 Breast Cancer Care survey of breast cancer patients revealed that prescription charges often have a serious financial impact on breast cancer patients. We found that:

  • 42% of respondents have experienced financial difficulties as a result of paying prescription charges

  • 15% of respondents have decided not to get their prescription dispensed because of the cost.

    The Prescription for change campaign is calling for cancer patients to be exempt from prescription charges.

    The campaign

    A diagnosis of breast cancer often has significant long-term financial implications attached to it. A major area of concern we frequently hear about from people affected by breast cancer is the added financial burden of prescription charges.

    In particular people with secondary breast cancer can find themselves under even greater pressure, as they often require more drug treatments than others. This is at a time when they may be on a reduced income as they are no longer able to work because of their condition and treatment.

    In response to these concerns, Breast Cancer Care is campaigning to raise awareness about the hardship prescription charges can cause and lobbying for cancer patients to be exempt from paying prescription charges. We are also calling for an urgent review of the list of conditions that are exempt from prescription charges in England.

    Key survey findings

  • 42% of respondents have experienced financial difficulties as a result of paying prescription charges

  • 15% of respondents have decided not to get their prescription dispensed because of the cost

  • 99% of respondents think cancer patients should be exempt from prescription charges

  • 45% of respondents use a Prescription Pre-payment Certificate

  • 37% of respondents believe prescription charges should be completely abolished

    For more information on the Prescription for change campaign click here

    • Latest Press Releases

    Breast Cancer Care: Comment on the government’s announcements surrounding top up payments

    Continued uncertainty on the legality of ‘top-ups’ has caused untold anxiety for breast cancer patients, so today’s announcement that those paying for drugs will not lose access to NHS care will bring relief to many.

    Breast Cancer Care: Staggering gap in support for advanced breast cancer patients

    Thousands of people with advanced breast cancer are suffering appalling gaps in essential support and care which is routinely offered to patients with primary breast cancer.

    Breast Cancer Care: English breast cancer patients missing out on vital emotional support

    The majority of breast cancer patients in England are routinely failing to receive essential psychological and emotional support despite government calls for, and NICE guidance on, the provision of such care, it is revealed today.

    Breast Cancer Care: Comment on research published in the New England Journal of Science

    Comment on research published in the New England Journal of Science, from Cancer Research UK which claims that a single mammogram reader using Computer Aided Detection (CAD) can be as effective as the two readers traditionally used in the UK.