Cancer Disability Discrimination

Governments worldwide continue to create division, distracting us from the real issues happening right in front of us. This isn’t just a problem in the UK—it’s a global issue. While we hang on every word spoken by politicians, our global infrastructure is being irreversibly impacted. One event that personally affected me was in 2010, a few years after my cancer diagnosis in 2007.

The Equality Act 2010: A Step Forward, but Far From Perfect

The Equality Act 2010 was introduced to protect individuals with disabilities, including cancer, from discrimination. It applies to England, Scotland, and Wales, replacing previous anti-discrimination laws like the Disability Discrimination Act. Under this law, cancer is considered a disability from the point of diagnosis, and reasonable adjustments must be made to support those affected in areas like employment, education, and access to services.

While the intention of the Act is commendable, my personal experience has been far from positive. After my diagnosis, I became part of the growing disabled population, but I’ve never felt more discriminated against in my life.

The Harsh Reality of Living With Cancer

After my diagnosis, my household income was halved almost immediately. As a self-employed person, I was entitled to virtually nothing—just a few crumbs from the government’s table. The long-term physical and emotional impacts of cancer weren’t fully understood then, and they still aren’t today.

According to Macmillan Cancer Support, there are around 3.5 million people living with cancer in the UK, with 250,000 receiving Personal Independence Payment (PIP). However, it’s unclear how many others rely on different benefits. With estimates suggesting that 50% of us will face cancer in our lifetime, the number of people registered as disabled due to cancer alone is staggering.

UK Government’s Proposed Reforms to the Benefits System

This week, the UK government announced plans for significant reforms to the benefits system, particularly for health and disability-related support. These proposals include:

• Addressing the rising cost of incapacity benefits and making the system more sustainable.
• Deploying work coaches to help people with health conditions or disabilities find and stay in work.
• Reforming PIP, potentially making it a conditional benefit for certain age groups, requiring engagement in work-related activities.
• Streamlining the assessment process for health and disability benefits, including reforming or replacing the Work Capability Assessment (WCA).

The government’s goal is to reduce the number of people who are economically inactive due to long-term sickness. However, with cancer cases rising, the number of disabled individuals is also increasing.

A Broken System

The benefits system, like the NHS and other state-run services, is simply not fit for purpose. But the biggest challenge isn’t just the system—it’s society’s perception of people with disabilities.

Yes, we’ve all heard stories of people supposedly living comfortably on benefits, but the reality is very different. Many people with disabilities have been pushed out of mainstream life because they cannot find suitable employment. Employers often see disability as an additional hurdle in an already challenging financial world.

Discrimination in Everyday Life

Discrimination against people with disabilities extends beyond employment. Financially, they are often penalized, facing higher costs for insurance, loans, and energy. Try applying for a job or a loan and write “cancer” on the form—you’ll quickly see how society treats people with disabilities.

Many working people are already living in poverty, so surviving on state handouts is nearly impossible. With councils reducing healthcare services and more cutbacks looming, taking away more money from disabled individuals will only cost society more in the long run.

A Two-Tier Society

We are witnessing the rise of a two-tier society: disabled individuals and everyone else. While we talk about equality and diversity, large organizations spend millions addressing issues like gender, religion, and race, yet one of the biggest and most harmful forms of discrimination—against people with disabilities—remains largely ignored.

A Call for Change

Every family has someone with cancer, and every employer does too. Unless we change our attitude as a society, people with disabilities will always be treated as second-class citizens. It’s time to address this issue head-on and create a world where equality truly means equality for everyone. As always, these are my own opinions based on my experiences. Please feel free to share your own below.