Melanie Finlay found out she has terminal bone cancer last year- now she fears she’ll go cold this winter amid cost of living crisis.
The 48-year-old Highland mum was told in March 2021 she has terminal metastatic bone cancer, which can cause painful or even broken bones.
This year, she fears herself, her husband and seven-year-old son won’t be able to afford to stay warm as the festive period approaches.
Mrs Finlay, who lives in Inverness, said: “I’ve got a really aggressive form of cancer and we just can’t control it.
“So, there is the likelihood that we’re not going to be able to do this winter what we did last winter.
“I’ve already started stockpiling winter blankets and hot water bottles. That’s probably the only thing that’s going to keep us going.
“I can’t even rely on things like electric blankets because the electricity’s going through the roof as well. We’re going to just have to rough it.”
Mrs Finlay stressed that being cold this winter will be particularly difficult for someone in her condition as her bones become painful in this climate.
“As soon as my bones get cold, they hurt. It’s very painful.
“We have to keep the house warm. But with the energy prices going up we can’t do that. There’s no way we’re going to be able to afford it,” she added.
‘Pushing people to breaking point’
End-of-life charity Marie Curie has reported an increase of almost 80% in callers who are concerned they or a loved one won’t be able to keep their home warm this winter.
Calls to their support line regarding financial worries have also increased by over a third since last year, with one in five of their calls now directly relating to this matter.
Ellie Wagstaff, senior policy manager at Marie Curie in Scotland, said: “The cost-of-living crisis is pushing people affected by terminal illness to breaking point.
“Terminal illness has no respect for people’s bank balance, personal circumstances, or age.
“It is those of working age who are at particular risk of falling into poverty if they become terminally ill.”
Ms Wagstaff confirmed the charity has called on the Scottish Government to provide more support with energy bills and childcare for terminally ill people.
“We’ve written to Scottish Government ministers urging them to listen to the huge majority of the public who back our campaign to provide dying people with more support for energy bills and childcare, including extending eligibility for the winter heating payment to all terminally ill people of working age in Scotland.
“Our survey clearly shows that the public back these measures and the figures from our support line underline how urgently this support is needed.
“We urge the government to take these measures. If they don’t, we fear many terminally ill people could freeze this winter,” she added.
In September, Marie Curie warned that ill and elderly people could “freeze to death” with care homes in the north and north-east facing closure as energy bills soar.
Conversation