An increasing number of people with cancer are having to seek financial aid from the Irish Cancer Society (ICS) to help them pay for necessities such as heating, the society has said.

It noted that applications to its financial aid scheme have risen by 36% in the last three years and this figure is expected to grow in 2013. It now spends more than 1 million a year on patients who need financial aid.

According to Kathleen O'Meara of the ICS, queries about costs such as travel and heating are now the third most frequent type of call to the society's National Cancer Helpline.

"We are hearing an increased anxiety from our callers about the cost to them of having cancer. We are giving more financial support to those who need it but we are seeing a growing number of cancer patients who are simply unable to manage the extra cost to them because they have cancer," she explained.

The ICS also pointed out that some patients who are waiting for medical cards are being asked to pay for their chemotherapy, with some even receiving letters from debt collection agencies seeking payment for this treatment and other hospital-related charges.

The society expressed concern that this move could place additional psychological pressure on these already vulnerable patients.

"Our information shows that a cancer diagnosis can have a significant adverse financial impact on patients and their families in Ireland. If someone is self-employed, young, without private health insurance, not eligible for a medical card or doesn't have savings, they are left in a very vulnerable position of being unable to manage basic expenses such as heating and travel to hospital for treatment," Ms O'Meara said.

The top three reasons that cancer patients need financial aid are currently heating and fuel, travel expenses and childcare.

The society called on the government to provide more help to these patients.

The National Cancer Helpline can be contacted at 1800 200 700.