MACMILLAN Cancer Care is campaigning for the Government to offer cancer patients a winter fuel payment.

The charity says sufferers should be entitled to the financial help, just like the elderly.

Nearly 12,000 people asked the charity for help with their fuel bills last year.

In Merseyside, £40,809 was given out in Macmillan grants to 279 people to help specifically with fuel bills.

Iain Traynor, from Skelmersdale, has had a long history of cancer, firstly suffering from testicular cancer and more recently thyroid cancer.

He is married to Rachel, 40, and the couple have two teenage children.

Mrs Traynor said: “With the soaring cost of gas and electricity, we’ve become terrified of the bills.

“My husband gets very cold but we’re scared to put the heating on all day so, instead, he wraps up in layers of clothing.

“Not only that, but we worry about using the washing machine and dryer. “My husband’s illness means he sweats and vomits; keeping his clothes and bedding clean is a constant job and adds to our fuel costs.

“The children and I skip bathing so that we can afford his daily shower and bath – if we don’t keep his skin clean, there’s real danger of infection.”

Mr Traynor added: “We will be spending another winter terrified of fuel bills, on top of all the other worries about cancer.”