And a Portstewart man has spoken out in a bid to highlight the help offered to cancer patients by Macmillan Cancer Support.

David Murray (pictured above), who was diagnosed with throat cancer last year, said he could not possibly have heated his home properly after being released from hospital without the help of Macmillan.
A survey by Macmillan Cancer Support found that 19% of cancer patients who had undergone treatment in the last year are in fuel poverty – double official UK figures.

The charity is renewing its calls for the Winter Fuel Payment to be extended to cancer patients in need and the terminally ill.
Heather Monteverde, Macmillan Cancer Support's general manager for Northern Ireland, said: "It is unacceptable that people who are already struggling to cope with a cancer diagnosis are also worrying about paying their bills.

"Cancer patients tell us they feel the cold more because of their condition. Their bills also rise because they are spending more time at home with the heating on. Often all this comes at a time when patients are unable to work because they are unwell and so their income plummets.
"Cancer patients under the age of 60 do not automatically qualify for help. This is why we are calling for Westminster to offer cancer patients in need the Winter Fuel Payment."

In Northern Ireland, unlike other parts of the UK, the monopoly gas and electricity companies do not provide a cheaper tariff for cancer patients.
50-year-old David Murray found his fuel bills rocketed after he came out of hospital.

David, who has oil heating, struggled to find the £400 he needed to fill the oil tank in his garden and was awarded a Macmillan grant to help him meet the cost.
He said: "After I came out of hospital, because my immune system was down, I felt the cold a lot more and I had the heating on twice as much as usual.

"I wasn't working and the price of oil had gone sky high so I didn't know how I was going to pay all the bills that were coming in.
"I was very grateful to Macmillan for the grant I received but I do think there needs to be a lot more done to help cancer patients at what is an expensive and difficult time.

"I am speaking out about this so that I can help do something to help Macmillan and to help others."
Heather added: "Paying fuel bills is a big source of stress for people with cancer and many tell us they are experiencing significant levels of poverty.
"If the Northern Ireland Executive plans to meet its target to eradicate fuel poverty in vulnerable households by 2010, then action must be taken now. It is totally unacceptable that people living with cancer are being financially crippled by higher heating costs as a direct result of their cancer diagnosis."

Anyone struggling with their fuel bills can get hold of a free fuel poverty fact sheet by calling 0808 808 00 00 or visiting www.macmillan.org.uk/fuelpoverty