Don’t make cancer survivors pay twice—the right for them to be “forgotten” should be law everywhere

An estimated 20 million people in Europe are living after a cancer diagnosis.12 Improvements in cancer care over the past decade mean that there are now nearly 50% more cancer survivors in Europe than there were in 2010.2 In many European countries, however, cancer survivors face substantial barriers that limit their ability to reintegrate into society and live productive lives.3 One of those barriers is financial.Long term cancer survivors, who have essentially been “cured” of their disease, can still face punishing financial discrimination—including gaining access to mortgages, loans, and health and travel insurance—because of their previous cancer diagnosis.4 In many dealings with financial institutions, cancer survivors are required to declare a cancer diagnosis, even if they have lived beyond cancer for many years. Although patients with other non-communicable diseases can also face financial hardships, it is particularly frustrating for people who have been cancer free for many years. This situation…
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