Breast cancer is costing sufferers almost £2,000 each, according to new research.

A Macmillan Cancer Relief study found women face costs of hundreds of pounds, such as travel to hospital, prescriptions and heating bills.

More than 1,000 people in Sussex are diagnosed with breast cancer every year and have to pay for frequent visits to hospital, medicine and extra heating, gas and electricity bills.

Many also spend extra money on complementary therapies and special diets.

Macmillan's Sussex director Stephen Richards said: "It is alarming to think that at this very stressful time cancer patients are having to worry about their financial situation. It should be the last thing on their mind."

Former sufferer Christine Roberts-Shaw said she had suffered immense financial difficulty during her five-year battle with breast cancer.

Mrs Robert-Shaw, 53, of Graham Avenue, Portslade, said: "I had to stop work and I just kept putting bills in a drawer because I couldn't bear to think about that kind of thing on top of everything else. We ended up in court but thankfully we were let off. Travel and parking costs, medicine - it all added up.

"As for complementary therapies and the holistic approach, there was no way I could afford that."

Almost a quarter of patients identified travel to hospital and parking as their highest extra cost.

Parking near the Royal Sussex County Hospital costs up to £1.50 an hour. The hospital car park is slightly cheaper at £1.50 for one to three hours and £2 for three to four hours but it is often full.

An equal number said their highest extra cost was diet and complementary therapies.

One in six said prescriptions were their biggest cost and one in seven said heating, electricity and gas bills rose.

Other extra expenses included wigs, special bras and new bedding.

Cancer sufferers are often entitled to benefits such as disability living allowance and Macmillan offers grants.

Visit www.macmillan.org.uk/abetterdeal or call the Better Deal campaign line free on 0800 500800.