Family Faces Financial Ruin Amidst Hidden Costs of Teenage Cancer Care
A family in Kent details the escalating financial burdens and income loss associated with caring for their daughter, Maya, who is battling a rare form of childhood cancer.
The profound financial strain of caring for a child with cancer has pushed one family to the brink of losing their home. Maya, a 13-year-old from Hythe, Kent, was first diagnosed with neuroblastoma at age three. Although she entered remission for five years, the cancer relapsed in 2023, intensifying the family's challenges.
Maya's mother, Dellanie, an NHS nurse, described the constant pressure of managing mortgage payments and other bills while her husband, Terry, has had to leave his job to provide full-time care for their daughter. Dellanie has also reduced her working hours to support her family. "While your child is poorly and you are fighting for her life, the bills don't stop coming," Dellanie stated. "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."
Maya was initially diagnosed with neuroblastoma near her adrenal gland. This rare cancer primarily affects children under five, with approximately 100 UK diagnoses annually, according to Cancer Research UK. After her initial remission, Maya's neuroblastoma returned three years ago. She has since received care from specialist teams at hospitals including the Royal Marsden and Great Ormond Street.
In 2025, during a clinical trial for CAR T-cell therapy, Maya suffered a brain injury, which her mother described as leaving her "profoundly disabled." This has necessitated Terry's full-time caregiving role and Dellanie's reduced work schedule.
Young Lives vs Cancer, a charity supporting families affected by childhood cancer, reports that families face average extra costs of around £700 per month and an average income loss of approximately £6,000 per household. "We find people are having to dip into savings, and most of these costs are immediate," said Sonia Malik, the charity's associate policy director. "It impacts the whole family and their lives are thrown into chaos. The financial stress should be the last thing families have to think about."
Malik noted that while some support is available, including financial aid from charities, disability benefits, and carer's allowance, accessing these benefits can be a lengthy process for families. Maya's mother expressed gratitude for their current situation, stating, "At the moment, Maya is a fighter and there is so much fight in her." Maze, who her mother described as a "larger than life person" with a love for animals and music, continues to face her illness with resilience.
