A poll by Macmillan Cancer Support suggests nearly half of cancer patients in England are being forced to cut back on basic necessities in order to pay for their prescriptions.
Breast cancer survivor Amanda Whetstone says she regularly skips breakfast and lunch to save money to pay for her prescriptions.
Amanda, 45, from Chessington in Surrey, said: "Although my cancer treatment - the surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy - has finished, I still need medication.
"As a result of my cancer I'm now on three different drugs. They cost me about �44 a month. That may not sound much to some, but I'm struggling financially.
"I'm now on statutory sick pay because I've been also unwell to work. My income is �360 per month and, quite frankly, I have barely sufficiency money to live on.
"I budget for everything. I don't go out because I can't give to socialise. I can't even invite friends o'er for a meal because I can't afford the food.
"I don't eat breakfast or lunch. The meals I do buy are ones that are on special offer.
"I can't afford fresh fruit or kernel. I know that isn't healthy, simply I simply can't give to buy healthy food."
Amanda said she has as well avoided going for dental and eye checks because she can't pay the bill.
With wintertime approaching, she is too worried about rising fuel costs.
"I have stayed awake at night for hours crying, thinking: 'How can I make this work?'
"Fighting genus Cancer is hard enough without the wicked financial worry that comes with it.
"I feel penalised because I have a disease that the government activity doesn't consider should make me let off from ethical drug charges."
Amanda said she had looked into the choice of remunerative a reduced annual fee of for her prescriptions but aforesaid she could not open to pay the oaf sum of �102.50.
She was surprised to hear that the prescription prepayment certification (PPC) schema, which allows patients to get all the prescription items they need for less than �2 a week, is available by monthly organise debit to help gap the cost of payments.
Alternatively, people world Health Organization have to pay for more than three prescription items in three months can pay three-month PPC of �27.85.
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