Family ‘skimped to get by’ during toddler’s cancer treatment

Alyssa McCrea spent years wondering when life with her twin daughters, Aria and Arabella, would return to its usual rhythm. The turning point came in summer 2022 when Aria, then just three years old, was diagnosed with leukaemia. This marked the start of a demanding treatment journey, requiring frequent trips to Belfast, a 110-mile return trip from their home in Derrykeighan, County Antrim. Over the course of two-and-a-half years, Alyssa made the journey up to four times weekly, facing mounting costs that strained their finances.

In February, the UK government introduced a dedicated fund to cover travel expenses for families managing long-term cancer care in England. However, this initiative does not extend to Northern Ireland. Stormont’s Department of Health stated it was “not possible” to establish a similar program due to budget constraints. Alyssa, now a mother of three, described the emotional toll of the situation, recalling how her daughter’s condition often disrupted their routine.

“It was a massive shock, I couldn’t even say the word cancer, I couldn’t process it,” said Alyssa. “Sometimes I’d have been up to the hospital for her treatment, we’d no sooner be home than she would take a high temperature and we’d have to go straight back up the road to make sure it wasn’t anything major.”

Despite some financial aid from children’s cancer charities and help from friends and family, expenses continued to rise. Alyssa explained how they had to “skimp to get by” during the most stressful period of their lives. “A family doesn’t plan for their young child to get diagnosed with cancer, they may not have savings behind them or may be in a bad position. Every little helps when you’re going through that sort of treatment,” she added.

Young Lives vs Cancer estimates that around 135 children and young people in Northern Ireland receive a cancer diagnosis annually. The charity’s research suggests a £300,000 annual investment would be needed to support local families. “That sounds like a large number but in the scheme of government budgets, it’s not necessarily so large so we absolutely think it could be provided for as either a bespoke fund or as part of the national scheme,” said Sonia Malik, the charity’s associate director of policy and influencing.

Stormont’s Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has been urged by Alliance MP Sorcha Eastwood to secure funding for Northern Irish families. Eastwood, who led a cross-party letter to the government, emphasized the importance of the fund. “This fund would be a game changer for them. You cannot describe the pain and anguish when a loved one is going through cancer,” she noted. The MP called on Nesbitt to “fight like hell” to ensure Northern Irish families are not left behind in access to this support.

The Help with Health Costs scheme in Northern Ireland provides financial aid for travel linked to medical treatment, but it is means-tested and available only to those on specific benefits. In contrast, Wales follows a similar approach, while Scotland offers a more generous system. The Republic of Ireland, though lacking a direct travel fund, has the Irish Cancer Society’s Travel2Care program to assist families.