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Tilly Jones was diagnosed with leukaemia two years ago, aged just four.

Mum Gemma is " so proud" of how Her Daughter has coped with it, but is finding the financial impact of cancer very stressful.

She has to regularly take Tilly on a 120-mile (about 193km) Round Trip from Powys to Cardiff for treatment.

Gemma is also spending more on heating and food, plus treats to cheer up Tilly when she's in hospital.

The 38-Year -old says there have been days when she has been able to feed her four children, aged between six and 16, but has gone without a hot meal herself.

She says The Family was " struggling" already with the cost of living, making cutbacks and sometimes relying on help at The Local community hub and food bank where she volunteers.

As well as those anxieties, Tilly's leukaemia has also brought added financial pressure as Gemma wants to keep her poorly daughter comfortable and as happy as possible.

" When Tilly's on her medication, she'll eat like a horse, " she.

" My fridge has got to be full all The Time , my cupboard's got to be full and with gas and electric I'm struggling now with it.

" I put money on The Other day and had to top up again on Monday. It's not fair. "

Gemma said that during one seven-day stay at hospital in Birmingham she spent around £300 bringing in food and things Tilly wanted like magazines and toys.

" How can you say no to a poorly child? " said Gemma.

" I Am getting very stressed. I have epileptic fits most days from stress. It's just hard.

" I just give her love and support and that's all I can do. "

Tilly was diagnosed with leukaemia two years ago when she was just four and requires regular hospital trips from their home in Builth Wells , Powys to Cardiff, which is about 64 miles (about 103km) away.

Such travel has meant big petrol costs.

Gemma is unable to work for health reasons and says The Extra costs associated with cancer are " unbelievable".

Latest figures show cancer in children accounts for less than 1% of the approximate 375,000 cancer cases diagnosed in the UK every Year - with about 1,800 new cases among Young People .

Now cancer support charities have said more people are applying for grants to help with costs.

Cancer charity Latch helps families with subsistence, travel, mortgage, rent and household bills. It has also helped Gemma with her mileage costs.

Chief executive, Menai Owen-Jones, said: " Each Year we work with around 120 families and Last Year we gave nearly £300,000 worth of grants to families.

" We're definitely seeing an increase in The Number of grants we provide.

" Over the Last Year we've seen an increase of 20% and We Are hearing families saying to us they are concerned and worried. "

The James family is also dealing with rising costs and caring for three-Year -old Griff, who was diagnosed with leukaemia Last Year .

Grants from the Young Lives Vs Cancer charity has helped but Kathryn James says they are still " watching the pennies".

" I Am not expecting to be supported throughout the whole treatment process, " said The Teacher from Wrexham.

" However, in that very first instance, during the intensive process where you don't know if you're coming or going, there should be more support there for families to Take That worry away. "

Macmillan Cancer Support has said families can be eligible for various welfare benefits but Richard Pugh from The Charity has said The System can be difficult to navigate.

" They've got to worry about cancer as it is, " He Said . " Let's make The System work for them and let's not make it a reactive system where they've got to go looking for things at the worst possible time. "

Macmillan believes cancer diagnosis should automatically " trigger" financial support, rather than people having to apply.

The UK government says it is supporting six million people with a disability or health condition with an extra £150 payment as part of a £37bn support package.

" We understand how difficult current pressures are for families facing cancer, " said a department for work and pensions spokesperson.

" That is why we have put a strong financial support system in place including, and.

" We urge people to check whether they are receiving all of the benefits to which they are entitled, and to be aware of the wider support this opens up, including help with including help with transport or broadband costs. "

Source of news: bbc.com