Following on from a diagnosis of melanoma, it is normal to have a variety of questions, worries and concerns about practical elements of your life. This may include common questions surrounding finance, insurance, and talking to your family members. You are not alone.
Finance
Questions and worries regarding money, mortgages and benefits are very common for people affected by melanoma. We understand that finding the right advice and guidance about these topics may feel overwhelming and cause a whole range of emotions. We also understand that not everyone will feel ready to engage with this information following a diagnosis. Every circumstance is personal and only you will know when you feel ready. We have put together a simple list for you to turn to when you do feel ready. Don’t feel as though you have to read everything at once, take your time and break it down into accessible chunks if you need to.
In a recent Macmillan survey of more than 2,000 people with cancer, 16% said that recent increased costs have been an issue.1
Macmillan- Financial Guidance
Macmillan- Cost of Living
https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/get-help/cost-of-living
Macmillan- Bills and Housing Costs:
Macmillan-Money & Work
https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/get-help/financial-and-work
Cancer Research-Financial Support & Cancer
https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/coping/practically/financial-support
Cancer Research- Mortgages & Cancer
https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/coping/practically/money/mortgages
Grants
We know that living with melanoma can bring additional costs into your life, for example the cost of travel to and from your hospital appointments. We want you to know that there is financial support out there. Macmillan provide information about the different grants and loans that may be available to you. Visit the link below to learn more.
Macmillan- Grants and loans
Benefits:
Macmillan- Benefits & Financial Support
Maggies- Money & Benefits
https://www.maggies.org/cancer-support/managing-practically/money-benefits-and-cancer/
Insurance
We hear that the topic of life insurance can feel very daunting and confusing for many people affected by melanoma. Talking to insurance companies can be a scary prospect, however we have selected the resources below to help you prepare for this. These resources explain the questions that you may be asked, along with why they are asked. They also explain the different type of insurance and provide contact details for further support. You may want to print some of the pages that you find useful and have them to hand at the time you feel ready to approach this topic. We can’t recommend a particular insurance company as each person’s circumstances are individual and will require different levels of suitability.
Life Insurance:
Macmillan- Insurance & Cancer
https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/impacts-of-cancer/insurance-and-cancer
Cancer Research-Life insurance & Cancer
https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/coping/practically/money/life-insurance
Maggies- Insurance & Cancer
https://www.maggies.org/cancer-support/managing-practically/insurance-and-cancer/
Travel Insurance:
We unfortunately know that getting travel insurance when you have or have had melanoma can be a struggle. We know that you will need to be extra careful when planning a trip and feel reassured that you have correct protection. The below resources are here to support you, they explain the type of questions you will need to answer, how to find travel insurance and useful travelling tips.
In a recent Macmillan survey of more than 2,000 people with cancer, travel insurance was highlighted as one of the top concerns of those with melanoma, with 22% of people with this type of cancer identifying it as an issue.
Macmillan- Cancer and Buying Travel Insurance
Cancer Research- Getting Travel Insurance
Money Helper- Travel Insurance Directory
https://www.moneyhelper.org.uk/en/everyday-money/insurance/travel-insurance-directory
Talking to your children about your diagnosis:
There is no right or wrong way to speak to your children about a melanoma diagnosis. This may depend on the age of the child(ren) and their emotional wellbeing. Only you will know your child(ren) and how much information they may be able to absorb and understand. The below resources provide practical tips to help you navigate this, they also discuss the potential benefits of talking with you child(ren). Macmillan also have downable audiobooks and guides that share practical advice about that this topic.
Macmillan- Talking to Children & Teenagers
Cancer Research- Talking to Children about Cancer
https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/coping/mental-health-cancer/talking-children
Maggies- Talking to Children
https://www.maggies.org/cancer-support/managing-socially/talking-children/
Marie Curie- Practical ways to support children
FruitFly Collective- Building new ways to support children, adults and families affected by cancer
https://fruitflycollective.com/talking-and-learning-about-cancer-with-kids/
My Melanoma Memoir- Melanoma: My Son and Me written by Stage 4 patient Charlotte Killeya
https://www.my-melanoma-memoir.com/post/melanoma-my-son-and-me
https://youtu.be/eSHQQV04qCE?si=tHxa2bw4aznprBvV
Ruth Strauss Foundation – Supporting Parents with Incurable Cancer to talk to, and Support their Children
A wholly inclusive approach is our guiding ethos. We are committed to creating inclusive patient information and ensure that our Melanoma Helpline and Melanoma Patient Conference is welcoming to the LGBTIQ+ community. We are pleased that people from the LGBTIQ+ community have, through their own experience of melanoma, chosen to come to us for support knowing they can do so confidently.
The below resources are here to offer further relevant cancer care information for the LGBTIQ+ community. Whether you are the patient, carer or healthcare professional the specific resources linked below are provided here to help.
OUTpatients is the UK’s only LGBTIQ+ cancer charity
OUTpatients – LGBTIQ+ Cancer Charity
Macmillan LGBTQ+ support information for those affected by cancer
https://www.macmillan.org.uk/support-for-lgbtq-affected-by-cancer
Cancer Research UK LGBTQ+ support information for those affected by cancer
https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-us/our-organisation/responsible-organisation/pride
Living with Melanoma, a podcast series by Melanoma Focus & ITN Business
Living with Melanoma – ITN Business
BBC Radio 4- The Today Podcast, Why we need to talk about cancer ft Stephen Fry
The Today Podcast – Why we need to talk about cancer ft. Stephen Fry – BBC Sounds
BBC Radio 4- Jon Holmes says the C word
BBC Sounds – Jon Holmes Says the C-Word – Available Episodes
Audiobook- Sir Chris Hoy, All that Matters
Bereavement Support
Sadly, you may lose a family member or friend to melanoma and coping with the emotions and feelings of grief after a bereavement is an extremely difficult thing to experience. This may impact you both physically and mentally. Grief is a very personal experience for everyone, and everyone deals with it differently. We have put together some information and resources to help you cope with some of your feelings and questions. You can access our bereavement support information, here.
1.Five big issues people with cancer in the UK are concerned about right now Five big issues for people with cancer 2022 (macmillan.org.uk) (Accessed 14/12/2022)
