‘Sometimes you really need a hug : How Macmillan s telephone buddies help isolated cancer patients
Macmillan Cancer Support’s Buddies scheme ensures vulnerable patients, still shielding, don t have to face the disease alone
12 December 2020 • 6:00am
Terminal cancer patient Lizzie Tovey (right) and her Macmillan buddy Sonia Tudor (now in her support bubble)
Credit: Andrew Fox When you’re diagnosed with cancer, you need to have a big support team behind you,” says Keith Flanagan, a 71-year-old who, as one of an estimated quarter of a million patients who fall into the “clinically extremely vulnerable” category, has been shielding since February.
“You wouldn’t be able to cope without these people – they’ll bring you things you hadn’t realised you need.” With face-to-face support services reduced this year to protect vulnerable cancer patients from the risk of coronavirus infection, almost one in four have experienced loneliness or isolation.