The parents of a teenage girl with a rare form of childhood cancer say the financial burden of her care has left them fearing they may lose their home.
Maya, 13, from Hythe in Kent, was diagnosed with neuroblastoma at three years old. After five years in remission, her cancer returned in 2023 as stage four, high-risk neuroblastoma. Her mother Dellanie, an NHS nurse, and father Terry have both had to reduce or leave their employment to care for her, while mortgage payments and living costs continue to mount.
The family's situation reflects a broader crisis affecting households across the country. According to Young Lives vs Cancer, families of children diagnosed with cancer face average additional monthly costs of around £700 and an average household income loss of approximately £6,000.
The mounting financial pressure
How has the diagnosis affected the family's finances? Dellanie explained the relentless nature of essential expenses during a child's illness.
Whilst your child is poorly and you are fighting for her life, the bills don't stop coming.She continued:
My husband has lost his income as he is caring for Maya, and these days you need two people working just to keep your head above water.
In 2025, during a clinical trial of CAR T-cell therapy—a technique used to treat certain types of leukaemia and lymphoma—Maya developed a brain injury that left her, in her mother's words,
profoundly disabled. This development forced Terry to leave his job entirely to provide full-time care, while Dellanie reduced her nursing hours to support both her daughter and her husband.
The family's fundraising appeal has now surpassed £15,000 toward a £40,000 target, with proceeds intended to help cover non-medical expenses. Additionally, their monthly mortgage payments are rising, intensifying the risk of losing their home.
What support exists for affected families?
Several forms of assistance are theoretically available to families in this situation. Sonia Malik, associate policy director at Young Lives vs Cancer, acknowledged that
some support is available for cancer patients and their carers, such as financial support from charities, disability benefits and carer's allowance. However, she noted a critical flaw in the system:
We find people are having to dip into savings, and most of these costs are immediate.The delay in receiving benefits support means families must often cover expenses out of pocket before any assistance arrives.
According to Young Lives vs Cancer, the main extra costs families encounter include travel, food, accommodation, energy bills and childcare. Yet research from the charity found that only 12% of young cancer patients and families received support covering direct travel costs, leaving the vast majority to manage these expenses independently.
What is neuroblastoma?
What type of cancer does Maya have? Neuroblastoma is a rare cancer that predominantly affects children under five years old. Around 100 children are diagnosed with it annually in the UK, according to Cancer Research UK. Maya was first diagnosed with neuroblastoma near her adrenal gland when she was three years old. After initially entering remission, her condition returned three years ago and has since required care from specialist teams including the Royal Marsden, University College London Hospital, Southampton, and Great Ormond Street Hospital. The family reports that chemotherapy is not currently possible because of Maya's blood counts.
The broader impact on families
How does a child's cancer diagnosis affect the entire household? Malik emphasised the scale of disruption:
It impacts the whole family and their lives are thrown into chaos.She stressed that
the financial stress should be the last thing families have to think about.
Dellanie reflected on her own coping mechanisms while managing the emotional and practical demands of her daughter's illness.
I always put a brave face on - of course I'm hurting, but I can't be in the corner crying.She described her approach to the family's circumstances:
I just have to be grateful for what we have got. At the moment, Maya is a fighter and there is so much fight in her.Maya, whom her mother describes as a
larger than life personwho loves animals and music, continues to demonstrate resilience despite her condition.
Government support and future action
What steps is the government taking to address these costs? In February 2026, the UK government announced a new £10 million fund for travel costs as part of its National Cancer Plan for children and young people with cancer and their families, according to Young Lives vs Cancer. While this represents a step toward addressing one category of hidden expenses, advocates argue that far more comprehensive support is needed to prevent families from facing the impossible choice between their child's treatment and their financial security.
