More people caring for someone with cancer

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The number of people caring for someone with cancer in the UK has risen to almost 1.5 million, new figures show.

According to one leading charity, this is an increase of almost a third in the past five years.

Family and friends are now spending an average of 17.5 hours a week looking after a loved one who is affected, said Macmillan Cancer Support.

One in five of those surveyed care for someone with cancer for more than 35 hours a week.

The figures come from a YouGov survey of more than 6,000 cancer carers aged 16 and over in the UK.

The estimated number of those carers in 2016 was 1,416,000 compared with 1,080,000 in 2011.

Macmillan is calling on the government to recognise the specific needs of such people in the new carers' strategy for England.

It also wants the government to set out a clear plan of how carers will be able to get help and support.

Fran Woodard, of Macmillan Cancer Support, said there was an urgent need to ensure the right support was in place for people caring for loved ones with cancer.

"One of the reasons carers don't get support is because they don't know it's available. In fact, many don't consider themselves to be carers because they're acting out of kindness and love.

"We simply can't expect carers to keep bearing the brunt so we need to support health and social care professionals to let carers know that there is help available which they're entitled to."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-36343537