Lowry seeks legislation for battling cancer patients

What is not generally known is that a cancer diagnosis can present a lifelong financial burden for patients, long after they have recovered, claims Tipp TD Michael Lowry.

He added: "New research from the Irish Cancer Society has revealed that many people affected by cancer at any time during their lives face being refused financial products. These include both insurance and mortgage protection cover. Even if the adult individual was diagnosed with cancer as a child or a teenager, they can still face challenges when trying to access financial protection for their future."

Deputy Lowry called on the Tanaiste Leo Varadkar to introduce the ‘Right to be Forgotten Beyond Cancer’ in Ireland, similar to many other EU countries.

"People who have a cancer diagnosis in their past are three times more likely to have difficulties getting insurance than the general population. They are twice as likely to have problems obtaining a mortgage.

"It seems that their past diagnosis is being used as a stick to beat them with financially. Despite the fact that more and more people are now cancer survivors, they continue to be discriminated against.

"The Irish Cancer Society is calling on the Government to implement the ‘Right to be Forgotten’ into legislation so that people do not have to declare a cancer diagnosis five years after recovery. This has been implemented by many other EU countries.

"People who have been diagnosed with cancer in the past are simply asking that their future lives are not defined by cancer. They have completed their cancer journey. They have navigated the endless issues that cancer patients must face. They have struggled with the loss of income due to inability to work. Many do not qualify for a medical card which subjects them to hospital charges, the cost of travel and parking, and many other associated bills. Many have had pressure and embarrassment of debt collectors arriving at their doors demanding payment for unpaid medical expenses they have not yet managed to pay.

"Their journey with cancer itself may be over. They have been blessed to have survived. Penalising them further is both cruel and heartless – they deserve the right to forget."

The Tanaiste, in acknowledging Deputy Lowry’s ongoing advocacy for people who have cancer and those who have survived it, said that the five year survival rate for all invasive cancers is now 65%, as opposed to 42% in the 1990’s. ‘We are now in a situation in Ireland where you are more likely to survive cancer than die from it’ he said.

"In relation to the issue raised by Deputy Lowry I acknowledge that this is a real problem. I want to assure the Deputy that officials are now engaging with stakeholders and colleagues across Europe to better understand how they have dealt with this issue. A number of EU States have implemented the ‘Right to be Forgotten Beyond Cancer’ policy and officials are examining the approach taken in these jurisdictions. We need to consider what might work best in an Irish context. We will hopefully be able to make some proposals in the coming months,’’ he concluded.