There are around 20 million cancer survivors across Europe, and new research suggests that many are facing "financial toxicity" from financial institutions which are denying them loans, mortgages, health and travel insurance.
The research, published in The Lancet Oncology, shows that up to five million cancer survivors in Europe are being denied basic financial services including life assurance, mortgages and travel insurance.
In Ireland, the UK, and many other European countries, cancer survivors must declare their previous diagnosis to financial institutions, even if they have been medically declared to be cancer-free.
"Our evidence of financial toxicity for cancer survivors is undeniable," research coordinator Mark Lawler, Professor of Digital Health at Queen's University Belfast, said.
He condemned the findings as "disgraceful".
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The European Initiative to End Discrimination against Cancer Survivors is pushing for legislation that would put an end to successfully treated patients having to declare a previously diagnosed cancer.
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Professor Lawlor said their diagnoses would then be essentially "forgotten".
In January 2016, France became the first country in the world to introduce such a law.
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In Ireland, financial institutions can choose to follow a code of practice to effectively ignore a past diagnosis, Prof Lawlor said, but he emphasised that there is no legal requirement that they do so.
He said that the right to be forgotten should come into effect after five years after a cancer survivor has been declared to be cancer free, and should be given legal status.
"We want the right to be forgotten to be embedded in law and protects cancer survivors," he said.
"We have to end the discrimination".
In its pre-budget submission, the Irish Cancer Society also urged that such legislation be introduced.
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Meanwhile, Insurance Ireland has insisted that Ireland has one of the most progressive positions in Europe on the issue - a claim that the Irish Cancer Society has pushed back on.
The industry body said that it is not aware of any complaints about the system since its introduction at the end of last year.
Under the code of practice, insurers can disregard a cancer diagnosis where treatment ended more than seven years prior to a person's application for cover, up to a maximum loan of €500,000.
If the applicant was under 18 when treatment was successfully concluded, it can disregard a cancer diagnosis for which treatment stopped five years before the loan application.
The Irish Cancer Society said that the code "has been a really welcome step for some cancer survivors".
But it expressed concern that "it only applies to mortgage protection and not other insurance products and generally only to those who finished treatment seven years ago".
"Other European countries offer wider access to cancer survivors, and we will continue to work with industry and the Government to ensure fairness for all cancer survivors," a spokesperson told RTÉ News.
