Cost of living pressures forcing cancer patients to forego lifesaving treatments

Australia's cost of living crisis has been laid bare with a new report from the Cancer Council showing patients are skipping crucial treatments due to financial pressures.

The data was gleaned from the Cancer Council's 13 11 20 support number where patients can speak to nurses and professionals about their illness and circumstances.

Cancer Council CEO, Todd Harper, told Today in the past 12 months, there had been a 50 per cent increase at the Victorian branch alone, in patients seeking assistance around practical support measures and financial problems associated with treatment.

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"We suspect this is in part due to the cost of living situation many Australians are experiencing, particularly cancer patients and also the difficulty these patients report in navigating the healthcare system and getting upfront, transparent information about the costs of cancer treatment," Harper said.

Harper said Australia's healthcare system needs to be more transparent around the costs associated with cancer treatment and what options patients have need to be made clearer so that treatment isn't compromised.

"We also need to be looking very closely at the out of pocket expenses cancer patients are incurring, even those with private health insurance are often shocked by the bills they experience as well," he said.

"Cancer Council's 13 11 20 service is operated with nurses who can provide information on a variety of services that are available to help patients through this time."

Hear the full chat with Harper in the video above