Rise in crowdfunding for cancer therapy

A report from BBC Radio 5 live has shown that there has been a significant rise in the number of cancer patients turning to crowdfunding in order to access treatment not available of the NHS.

The report suggested that data from JustGiving shows that 2,348 appeals were set up by cancer patients or their families in 2016, seven times the number for 2015.

The figures showed that £4.5 million was raised by these appeals in 2016, a great deal higher than the £530,000 in 2015.

The JustGiving statistics also indicated that the most popular destinations for people to travel abroad to to have treatments included USA (404 people), Germany (142 people) and Mexico (23 people).

Charles Wells, chief operations officer for JustGiving, said: "Over the last 12 months, we've seen more and more people crowdfunding on JustGiving to raise money for cancer treatments that aren't available on the NHS.

"It can be a practical way for friends, family and the community to come together and help, as well as providing a lifeline for people by giving them access to pioneering treatments when they've been given a cancer diagnosis."

A spokesman for NHS England said: "More people than ever before are surviving cancer thanks to improved NHS care… and together with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) we have also launched a new-look cancer drugs fund, meaning patients will be able to access promising, new and innovative treatments much quicker."

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This story was first published in digitalhealth.net

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