A cancer patient has shared the realities of living with an incurable diagnosis, including the practicalities of selling possessions, and has called on Yvette Cooper to bring in personal cancer plans for all patients.
The patient, who was diagnosed with incurable bowel cancer in the summer of 2023, said their biggest fear about dying is not the pain but the idea of returning as a ghost to see their prized possessions for sale in a charity shop. They noted that most of their belongings, including books and DVDs, are not worth much, but some items, such as Norman Cherner-style dining chairs, a Singer sewing machine table, and artworks, deserve to be sold to an interiors dealer.
Preparing for death
They have started writing a list of possessions to help loved ones know what is worth selling on eBay or taking to an interiors store, rather than donating everything to charity. The patient wonders whether selling items now is the best way to reduce the tasks their loved ones will face after their death.
According to statistics for their particular cancer, they have an 11% chance of living longer than five years after diagnosis. Three-and-a-bit years into treatment, the cancer is fighting back, meaning they are likely to be dead by July 2028. They are considering selling winter coats by the start of spring that year, while holding off on furniture they still use.
Lack of support at end of life
The patient, in their late 40s, said they never thought they would be considering selling off their worldly goods but now realise it might be a necessity. They questioned the level of support cancer patients receive, noting that at each stage of treatment there is a vague explanation of what will happen, but there is little guidance for when treatment stops.
They hope that the 18-month wait for counselling they were told about when first diagnosed does not exist for people with less than a year to live, and that support is not a postcode lottery. They also hope that discussions about selling items before life support is turned off would be allowed during counselling sessions, as it is all part of preparing for death.
Campaign for mental health support
The patient has been leading the Daily Express’s Cancer Care campaign since it started in January 2025, which calls for everyone with cancer to be able to get mental health support both during and after treatment. Wes Streeting acknowledged the need when he pledged for all cancer patients to have their own personal cancer plan, including help on dealing with all aspects of the disease, back in February when he was Health Secretary. Now it is time for Yvette Cooper to follow his lead and bring the plans in as soon as possible.
