Money is an added worry patients battling cancer can do without.

And three charities have managed to lighten the load for 1,000 Oxfordshire sufferers by helping them to claim about £1.8m in benefits and additional income in the past year alone.

The Macmillan and Oxford Citizens Advice Bureau benefits advice project helps families and carers with issues such as welfare benefits and entitlements, employment, debt and hospital costs.

The project was set up in July 2007 as a collaboration between three charities — Macmillan Cancer Support, the CAB and Maggie’s Cancer Centres.

Kate Burnham, a Macmillan Welfare Benefits Adviser at the CAB, said about 20 per cent of those asking for the project’s advice were citing extra heating expenses and the cost of travel to hospital as particular financial hardships.

She said: “The service has been a real success.

“The majority of people we see have never claimed benefits before and are so worried about their finances it is seriously affecting their quality of life.”

Ms Burnham said that among the people the project had helped since their diagnosis was a lady in her eighties who was being treated for lung cancer.

She was so worried about how to pay her gas bills that she would not keep the heating on and was living in a cold house.

The service helped to apply for a benefit that gave her an extra income of £3,827 year, so she could afford to keep warm and pay for help when she needed it.

The service also helped a couple with young children who were struggling to survive on sick pay when the husband was diagnosed with cancer and his wife had to give up her job to care for him.

They could not afford to pay their mortgage and were at risk of losing their home.

The project helped them claim benefits they were eligible for, including help with the interest on their mortgage, giving them an increased income of over £25,000.

The project is based at Oxford’s Maggie’s Centre, at the Churchill Hospital in Headington, and offers appointments, telephone advice and a drop-in service.

Every other Monday advisers are also available to help cancer patients being treated at The Horton Hospital, in Banbury, between 9am and 3pm.

Ms Burnham added: “Money worries are the last thing you need when you’re facing the toughest fight of your life.

“We’re here to support them every step of the way by giving them advice and, where appropriate, helping them obtain benefits they are entitled to.”

If you are struggling to cope with the financial impact of a cancer diagnosis and you or a family member are receiving treatment at an Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust hospital, you can drop in to Maggie’s Centre at the Churchill Hospital or call 01865 225689 for advice over the phone.

You can also contact the Macmillan Support Line free of charge on 0808 808 00 00 for practical and emotional support or go online for details at macmillan.org.uk/financialsupport