Macmillan said 30,000 Scots living with the disease will face feelings of isolation over the festive period
Scots affected by cancer who are experiencing loneliness this festive period are being encouraged to log on to a charity’s online community for support.
Macmillan said tens of thousands of Scots with cancer will face feelings of isolation the Christmas and New Year, according to a recent survey of 1000 people living with the disease.
The poll found 14% of those surveyed said Christmas is one of the loneliest times of year – equating to an estimated 30,000 people.
More than one in five (21%) said the same for New Year – an estimated 50,000 people – and around one in six (16%) for the anniversary of a loved one’s death.
While we often think of Christmas and New Year as being a time when people come together, this research shows that festive periods can be really difficult for many people living with cancer
Factors including hospital visits and lack of money for travel or gifts can increase people’s sense of loneliness and isolation over the festive period, the charity said.
Cancer treatment can also result in a loss of sense of taste and fatigue which can make it difficult for people to fully enjoy and take part in Christmas dinners and family gatherings.
Women and people under the age of 65 were particularly likely to find the festive period lonely, the survey found.
Macmillan is now urging anyone with cancer, or carers who are feeling lonely over Christmas and New Year, to log on to its online community for support from other people in similar situations.
Janice Preston, head of Macmillan in Scotland, said: “While we often think of Christmas and New Year as being a time when people come together, this research shows that festive periods can be really difficult for many people living with cancer.
“Illness or a lack of money can get in the way of joining friends and family to celebrate, while the lull in normal day to day activities over the festive period can cause many people who’ve been diagnosed with cancer, recently or even in the past, to pause and reflect on what they’ve been through.
“Macmillan want everyone to know about our online community where anyone can log on at any time of the day or night and talk to other people in similar circumstances.
“We also want to remind family and friends of someone with cancer that they may be feeling especially low and to try to make an extra special effort to spend time with them if they can.”
The charity’s online community is open to anyone affected by cancer, with users active 24 hours a day.
Last December, over 87,000 users visited and interacted on the site, with over 35,000 visiting the site between 24 December 2015 and 1 January 2016.
The community can be found here.
