Cancer patients should not be told to “fight” their disease because doing so puts them under “exhausing pressure”, Macmillan Cancer Support has said.

The charity warned that framing cancer in terms of a battle leaves patients feeling guilty for admitting fear and often prevents them planning properly for their death.

Macmillan said thousands of sufferers were unnecessarily dying in hospital rather than their own home each year because of a “gulf in communication” towards the end of life.

Experts last night called for a cultural change around cancer so patients no longer feel compelled to put on a brave face.

Research commissioned by the charity reveals nearly two thirds of sufferers never talk to anyone about their fears of dying due to the pressure to see themself as a “fighter”.

Meanwhile 28 per cent reported feelings of guilt if they cannot stay positive about their disease.

Adrienne Betteley, end-of-life care advisor at Macmillan, said: “We know that “battling” against cancer can help some people remain upbeat about their disease, but for others the effort of keeping up a brave face is exhausting and unhelpful in the long-term.

The new report, titled Missed Opportunities, shows that despite 64 per cent of people with cancer preferring to die at home, currently only 30 per cent achieve this.