What Is the Cost of Chemotherapy in Ireland and How to Pay for It
Chemotherapy is a medical treatment that uses anti-cancer drugs to kill cancer cells and stop the disease from spreading. It can be given to cure, control or relieve the symptoms of cancer. In Ireland healthcare is not free so some cancer patients can end up paying up to €800 a year for chemotherapy treatment.
On top of this, there are many costs involved with a cancer diagnosis such as travelling to treatment and taking time off work.
Getting chemo in Ireland
Chemotherapy can damage healthy cells in the body as well as cancer cells, causing a range of nasty side effects. Side effects may include, but are not limited to: fatigue; nausea and vomiting; hair loss; diarrhoea or constipation; skin complaints; memory and concentration problems; and an increased risk of picking up infections. Many chemo side effects can now be prevented or treated with the help of your doctor. Hair loss is nearly always temporary.
How many people have chemotherapy every year?
According to the Irish Cancer Society almost 45,000 people are diagnosed with cancer every year in Ireland. The charity estimates that 28% of cancer patients have chemotherapy as part of their primary cancer treatment.
How much does chemotherapy cost Ireland
In Ireland The Health Service Executive does not offer free healthcare or medications to all patients. Patients may have private health insurance, may qualify for a medical card on assessment, or may have neither and face inpatient charges of up to €800 a year for treatments such as chemotherapy
For those trying to answer the question ‘is chemo free in the Ireland’, it may involve the following self-funded costs:
Travel to specialist hospitals
The costs of travelling for chemotherapy can increase the cost of chemotherapy quickly, especially if you are referred to a specialist hospital that is far from where you live and are undergoing daily treatment.
Hospital car parking
Last year state run hospitals took in €12 million a year from car parking charges, according to the Irish Times. Parking in the hospital car park for your visits can quickly add up.
According to the Irish Cancer society, Cancer patients are paying up to €63 a week in car parking charges. They currently are asking the HSE to issue guidelines to hospitals so that all people undergoing cancer treatment receive free car parking.
Wigs
Losing your hair to chemotherapy can be traumatic, which is why some cancer patients choose to wear a wig. Synthetic wigs cost from €350 and €500 and last for six to nine months. Wigs made from real hair cost from €600 and €1000 but last for three to four years.
Usually you are only entitled to free or subsidised hairpieces if you have a medical card. You may be able to claim back some or all of the cost of a hairpiece through the tax system or through your medical insurance cover, if you have medical insurance.
Clothing costs
Chemotherapy can cause substantial weight loss or gain, leaving an estimated 40 per cent of cancer patients in need of new clothes.
Childcare
People attending hospital for chemotherapy may need to employ childcare. The average cost of hiring a registered childminder for a child under two is €184 per week in Ireland. Help towards childcare costs is available from the government, but the amount on offer depends on how much the claimant earns.
Overnight accommodation for family members
Family members who don’t live near the hospital may need to organise overnight accommodation, especially if their child is undergoing chemotherapy.
Reduced income
A recent report by the Irish Cancer Society noted that the average fall in income of cancer patients was €1,527 per month. This loss of income, on top of additional costs, can be crippling, especially for self-employed people without the safety net of statutory sick pay.
Higher day-to-day living costs
More than half of cancer patients see their everyday living costs rise post-diagnosis, be it higher energy bills from spending more time at home and feeling the cold more, increased phone and internet bills to combat loneliness, or the need to pay for help with household chores.
Getting help paying for chemo
There are government schemes in place to help cancer patients who are struggling financially, some of which are mentioned above. However, these rarely cover the full costs of cancer.
Friends and family often want to help in any way they can, which is why many families tackling cancer turn to crowdfunding to lessen the burden.
Start getting help today
With a GoFundMe, you can get immediate help to pay for your chemotherapy costs today. GoFundMe differs from many other fundraising platforms in that there are no hidden fees.
GoFundMe’s experts are on hand to offer advice around the clock and you can use our mobile app to check in on your fundraising progress while on the move.
Setting up your page could not be easier but there’s a treasure trove of expert fundraising tips on our blog.