BACKGROUND: Improvements in some treatment programs for multiple myeloma (MM) are increasing survival. As patients live longer with MM as a chronic disease, the personal financial effects of MM treatment become a serious concern. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to identify the personal financial effects of MM and its treatment in 5 areas: employment, disability, health/medical and life insurance, retirement, and out-of-pocket expenses. METHODS: We mailed a questionnaire about financial issues to 1015 patients who had received intensive treatment for MM at the study site. Data analysis included descriptive statistics and comparisons using independent t tests. RESULTS: Our sample (n = 762; mean age, 61 [SD, 9.26] years) experienced issues with employment (66% employed at diagnosis and treatment; 33% employed at questionnaire time), disability (35% applied), health/medical and life insurance (29% lost coverage and 8% changed coverage), retirement (13% retired during treatment), and out-of-pocket expenses (36% of income in first treatment year and 28% of income during most recent 12 months). CONCLUSIONS: Issues of employment, disability, health insurance, retirement, and out-of-pocket costs for treatment are major challenges for patients. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: In the midst of assessing physical needs during clinical trials for chemotherapy and stem cell transplants, healthcare providers must keep sight of patients' personal financial needs so that we can intervene promptly with referrals to social work, rehabilitation therapy, and other healthcare professions to help patients decrease the personal financial effects of MM and its treatment.
BACKGROUND: Improvements in some treatment programs for multiple myeloma (MM) are increasing survival. As patients live longer with MM as a chronic disease, the personal financial effects of MM treatment become a serious concern. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to identify the personal financial effects of MM and its treatment in 5 areas: employment, disability, health/medical and life insurance, retirement, and out-of-pocket expenses. METHODS: We mailed a questionnaire about financial issues to 1015 patients who had received intensive treatment for MM at the study site. Data analysis included descriptive statistics and comparisons using independent t tests. RESULTS: Our sample (n = 762; mean age, 61 [SD, 9.26] years) experienced issues with employment (66% employed at diagnosis and treatment; 33% employed at questionnaire time), disability (35% applied), health/medical and life insurance (29% lost coverage and 8% changed coverage), retirement (13% retired during treatment), and out-of-pocket expenses (36% of income in first treatment year and 28% of income during most recent 12 months). CONCLUSIONS: Issues of employment, disability, health insurance, retirement, and out-of-pocket costs for treatment are major challenges for patients. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: In the midst of assessing physical needs during clinical trials for chemotherapy and stem cell transplants, healthcare providers must keep sight of patients' personal financial needs so that we can intervene promptly with referrals to social work, rehabilitation therapy, and other healthcare professions to help patients decrease the personal financial effects of MM and its treatment.
Authors: Deborah S Main; Carolyn T Nowels; Tia A Cavender; Martine Etschmaier; John F Steiner Journal: Psychooncology Date: 2005-11 Impact factor: 3.894
Authors: R P McQuellon; G B Russell; D F Cella; B L Craven; M Brady; A Bonomi; D D Hurd Journal: Bone Marrow Transplant Date: 1997-02 Impact factor: 5.483
Authors: M Kopp; H Schweigkofler; B Holzner; D Nachbaur; D Niederwieser; W W Fleischhacker; G Kemmler; B Sperner-Unterweger Journal: Eur J Haematol Date: 2000-08 Impact factor: 2.997
Authors: Grace L Smith; Maria A Lopez-Olivo; Pragati G Advani; Matthew S Ning; Yimin Geng; Sharon H Giordano; Robert J Volk Journal: J Natl Compr Canc Netw Date: 2019-10-01 Impact factor: 11.908
Authors: Theresa A Hastert; Gregory S Young; Michael L Pennell; Tasleem Padamsee; S Yousuf Zafar; Cecilia DeGraffinreid; Michelle Naughton; Michael Simon; Electra D Paskett Journal: Cancer Med Date: 2018-07-17 Impact factor: 4.452
Authors: Michael H Tomasson; Mahmoud Ali; Vanessa De Oliveira; Qian Xiao; Yogesh Jethava; Fenghuang Zhan; Adam M Fitzsimmons; Melissa L Bates Journal: Int J Mol Sci Date: 2018-11-16 Impact factor: 5.923