What happens if someone with cancer has no support?

[VenusClapTrap]

I’m very worried about my friend. She’s just been diagnosed with breast cancer. It is large and aggressive, but on the plus side has not spread to organs/bones.

She has nobody to look after her. No family. No partner. Good friends, but only one in London (where she lives), as the others (including me) have all left over the years.

She started a new job recently and is on probation, so it seems likely she will lose it. It is a junior position, easily filled, and her line manager is unsupportive.

She is currently living in AirB&Bs as she hasn’t been able to find anywhere affordable to rent. She used up all her savings when a health problem (unrelated) stopped her working a few years ago, so she has no rainy day fund.

I am so worried for her that she will lose her job and the roof over her head, and be going through chemo/radio/surgery.

Can anyone advise what happens to people in this sort of situation?

She knows she always has a bedroom in my house waiting for her. But I live in a rural village some way away, and she doesn’t want to be here. Plus her treatment will be in London, not here in the sticks.

She has made an appointment with her union, and with an advisor at MacMillan.

But things seem very bleak and I’m so worried.

If she becomes homeless the council should house her. She can also contact homeless and cancer charities and claim benefits

Having cancer is treated as a disability for discrimination and employment law purposes. Her employers absolutely must make reasonable adjustments for her treatment and recovery and must not sack her or if they do they will be guilty of illegal discrimination and she can sue them when she has the energy. Protection from discrimination starts from day 1, the rule about being able to dismiss someone for any reason in the first 2 years doesn't apply if it's discriminatory.

Thank you. I’ve already told her she MUST claim whatever benefits she’s entitled to. In the past she has refused. She’s quite a proud person and can be very stubborn. But I think now she will have no choice.

Will the council house her in reality though? There are such long waiting lists and no homes available.

If she has ongoing health needs ( and it sounds like that might be a possibility) they might house her in sheltered accommodation- I’ve known of a couple of cases of homeless people being given a care home placement because of their health needs. If she ends up in hospital and is homeless they will arrange accommodation for discharge as they won’t want to discharge her to the streets. Hopefully macmillan and council come through for her.

Hopefully she won't lose her job but I guess she could just be paid SSP and benefits likely may not cover London rent. Macmillan will be able to advise. I would think even with a health condition she would be unlikely to get housed by the council in London. It may not be a bad idea to stay with you. Treatment can be transferred to another Oncology centre, chemotherapy regimes are standard so fairly easy to transfer and it would help to have someone with her when she could be feeling rough after treatment.

MacMillan will help her with her finances

Bless you, I'm glad she has a friend like you