Cancer and Homelessness: Some Reflections
Contributed by Mary Maclean, as told to Stephen Wilson, one of our reporters abroad
StreetSense next explores the problem of cancer among the homeless. StreetSense spoke to Mary Maclean, a 52-year-old carer from Campeltown in Scotland who is currently being treated for thyroid cancer. She supports and assists the homeless whenever possible. She contributed the following article.
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Mary Maclean explains,
“I cannot believe I only had my operation 29 days ago against thyroid Cancer. The time has flown by. I really don't know how we 'd have managed had we still stayed at the Sound of Kintyre. It could have been very difficult for my brother Ian and me. Thank goodness we are settled. I cannot imagine how I'd have coped with the threat of homelessness last year. Thank God we moved when we did. {Mary was anxious she would be unable to afford keeping her house and moved into social housing which is far more affordable and secure.} Sometimes we get a feeling about things and sensed it was time to move. I thank God I have a roof over my head. I don't have to deal with that threat. How do the homeless people cope when they have cancer? I know in the United Kingdom the Marie Curie Charity has a program to help them. So I am glad I am supporting the Marie Curie nurses in my will. Everybody with a terminal illness deserves decent care, and that includes homeless people!!! People experiencing homelessness have a prevalence of cancer up to four times higher and mortality rate twice as large as that of the general population. {See Professor Ramen Asgary's article in the Lancet Onocology Journal titled “Cancer Care and Treatment during Homelessness,” Volume 25, issue 2, February 2024.}”
“In the late 90's to early 2000's I volunteered in Kilmarnock, Scotland, with 'The Children of Chernobyl' charity. Youngsters from the former Soviet Union came to stay with host families in Kilmarnock, and it was hoped that the children would reap some benefit from spending a few weeks away from their homeland. Never did I think I'd have thyroid cancer 25 years later. I know the statistics for getting cancer in the U.K. is '1 in 2' of us in our lifetime according to Cancer Research U.K. My mother died from pancreatic cancer in 2019, and I always felt it was a matter of 'when' and not 'if'. Cancer is rife those days especially in Kintyre, Scotland. People say it's the fallout from Chernobyl. I have heard local farmers here say their sheep all dropped their lambs on the night of the disaster. Are we still feeling the effects of Chernobyl,
even after the Fukashima disaster in Japan? I do wonder when I had exposure to radiation in my life time that would have caused my cancer. Who knows? I also feel I have put on a lot of weight since my first operation because my hormones {thyroid } have been affected. I feel heavy, sluggish, and tired a lot. It is also more difficult to speak and move my head from side to side. Thankfully I have not lost my voice yet!”
“I'm glad I have ended up single. Many men dump their wives when they have cancer.”
“I've also decided not to empty my flat until my cancer is 'officially' terminal. Or should I say 'If'? When that time comes, I'll have a better timescale. The good news is thyroid cancer patients have a 90% chance of surviving for 5 years. We'll see. I might be in the 10% who don't. A lot depends on whether it spreads to other parts of the body. But I'm staying positive and keeping myself busy. I also have Jack to write to now as he wants to correspond with me. So I'll be very busy indeed.”
“The surgeon told me I'll be in hospital for much longer this time. I was in the hospital for 5 days before. I'm not looking forward to my next operation and I hope and pray that it goes well. The trick is to keep calm. Once I have recovered, then I'll need to get a course of radioactive iodine in tablet form. We will then find out if this has killed the cancer. The worst scenario is if it spreads to the vascular area and other areas of the body. I can only ever hope and pray this doesn't happen. I am keeping positive. I have a lot of hobbies and projects to complete.”
“My cousin James in America phoned tonight. We had a good chat. He had testicular cancer about 15 years ago. He is in remission. We are going to keep in touch. I have a family, and I have friends. There are very good medical professionals too. Compared to some countries we have great national health service treatment. I cannot imagine the pain of being homeless and living and dying with cancer!”
“This is why I support the Marie Curie nurses: They have a program of palliative care for the homeless. People need a secure place to live and dignity when dying.”
“I also know what to expect because my mum had cancer. She said, ‘People say, why me? Why not me?' She also said, ‘I wish you had a Mary when it's your turn.' “
“But I do have a Mary…I have myself, and I have others! Plus, I have my brother Ian.”