Laois cancer patient shares experience of financial struggles ahead of budget

A cancer patient from Laois has spoken out about her experience of grappling with the financial implications of a cancer diagnosis ahead of Budget 2025. 

Borris-in-Ossory resident Samantha Vaughan is backing the Irish Cancer Society's call on the government to deliver sustained, recurrent funding for the National Cancer Strategy.

Samantha said getting a cancer diagnosis and then grappling with the financial implications felt like a ‘huge burden’ at a time when she should have been resting. 

The mother-of-four was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2023, at age 48, and struggled with the loss of income and additional financial pressures her diagnosis caused. 

“You're constantly trying to think ahead of the cancer, but then you have the huge burden of running a household, paying bills and making sure there's food on the table and a roof over your head. Then you have the cost of travelling to the hospital, paying for treatment – I had to wait nine weeks for a medical card to cover me. I’m in Laois so we’ve to travel to Cork, it’s €50 in the car going up and down, then you’ve got the tolls, and parking charges in the hospital.” 

Ahead of Budget 2025 the Irish Cancer Society is calling for: Funding for hospitals to abolish car parking charges for cancer patients. Medical cards for all cancer patients upon diagnosis, until their treatment is finished. Automatic entitlement to the Household Benefits Package, Fuel Allowance and Additional Needs Payment, and electricity credits for cancer patients in palliative care for the remainder of their life. Abolishment of prescription charges for all medical card holders. Reduction of the Drugs Payment Scheme threshold to at least €72 per month and expansion of the Domiciliary Care Allowance eligibility criteria from 16 to 18 years of age.  

Steve Dempsey, Director of Advocacy and Communications, Irish Cancer Society said, “Many cancer patients are going through the emotional and physical toll of cancer treatment while being crushed rising bills and struggling to make ends meet. We’re urging Government to fully fund the National Cancer Strategy and to cut the costs for cancer patients in Budget 2025. Having cancer is hard enough, patients shouldn’t be worrying about paying for parking and medicines.”