Matthew P Banegas1, Jennifer L Schneider2, Alison J Firemark2, John F Dickerson2, Erin E Kent3,4, Janet S de Moor3, Katherine S Virgo5, Gery P Guy6, Donatus U Ekwueme6, Zhiyuan Zheng7, Alexandra M Varga2, Lisa A Waiwaiole2, Stephanie M Nutt8, Aditi Narayan9, K Robin Yabroff10. 1. Center for Health Research, Kaiser Permanente Northwest, 3800 N. Interstate Ave., Portland, OR, 97227, USA. Matthew.P.Banegas@kpchr.org. 2. Center for Health Research, Kaiser Permanente Northwest, 3800 N. Interstate Ave., Portland, OR, 97227, USA. 3. Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA. 4. ICF International, Fairfax, VA, USA. 5. Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA. 6. Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA. 7. Economics & Healthcare Delivery Research, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, GA, USA. 8. The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA. 9. LIVESTRONG Foundation, Austin, TX, USA. 10. Surveillance and Health Services Research, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Abstract
PURPOSE: To assess the financial outcomes and associated social and economic effects on cancer survivors and their families. METHODS: We assessed the responses of 1656 cancer survivors to a survey with both closed- and open-ended questions about cancer-related financial sacrifices they and their family experienced and evaluated differences in financial sacrifice by reported levels of cancer-related debt. RESULTS: The most commonly reported financial sacrifices included cutbacks on household budgets, challenges with health care insurance and costs, career/self-advancement constraints, reduction/depletion of assets, and inability to pay bills. Survivors who incurred $10,000 or more in debt were significantly more likely to report social and economic impacts, including housing concerns and strained relationships. CONCLUSIONS: Our analysis demonstrates both the frequency with which cancer survivors and families must make financial sacrifices as a result of their cancer, and the variety of forms that this sacrifice can take, even for individuals who have health insurance. The many types of financial hardship create challenges that are unique to each survivor and family. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: Interventions that allow for personalized assistance with the specific financial and social needs of cancer survivors and their families have the potential to address a critical aspect of the long-term wellbeing of this important population.
PURPOSE: To assess the financial outcomes and associated social and economic effects on cancer survivors and their families. METHODS: We assessed the responses of 1656 cancer survivors to a survey with both closed- and open-ended questions about cancer-related financial sacrifices they and their family experienced and evaluated differences in financial sacrifice by reported levels of cancer-related debt. RESULTS: The most commonly reported financial sacrifices included cutbacks on household budgets, challenges with health care insurance and costs, career/self-advancement constraints, reduction/depletion of assets, and inability to pay bills. Survivors who incurred $10,000 or more in debt were significantly more likely to report social and economic impacts, including housing concerns and strained relationships. CONCLUSIONS: Our analysis demonstrates both the frequency with which cancer survivors and families must make financial sacrifices as a result of their cancer, and the variety of forms that this sacrifice can take, even for individuals who have health insurance. The many types of financial hardship create challenges that are unique to each survivor and family. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: Interventions that allow for personalized assistance with the specific financial and social needs of cancer survivors and their families have the potential to address a critical aspect of the long-term wellbeing of this important population.
Entities:
Keywords:
Access to care; Cancer survivors; Financial hardship; Medical debt; Social and economic needs
Authors: Erin E Kent; Laura P Forsythe; K Robin Yabroff; Kathryn E Weaver; Janet S de Moor; Juan L Rodriguez; Julia H Rowland Journal: Cancer Date: 2013-07-31 Impact factor: 6.860
Authors: K Robin Yabroff; Emily Dowling; Juan Rodriguez; Donatus U Ekwueme; Helen Meissner; Anita Soni; Catherine Lerro; Gordon Willis; Laura P Forsythe; Laurel Borowski; Katherine S Virgo Journal: J Cancer Surviv Date: 2012-07-19 Impact factor: 4.442
Authors: S Yousuf Zafar; Jeffrey M Peppercorn; Deborah Schrag; Donald H Taylor; Amy M Goetzinger; Xiaoyin Zhong; Amy P Abernethy Journal: Oncologist Date: 2013-02-26
Authors: Sophie Lauzier; Pascale Lévesque; Myrto Mondor; Mélanie Drolet; Douglas Coyle; Jacques Brisson; Benoît Mâsse; Louise Provencher; André Robidoux; Elizabeth Maunsell Journal: J Natl Cancer Inst Date: 2013-01-24 Impact factor: 13.506
Authors: Sarah E Bradley; Paula R Sherwood; Jean Kuo; Candace M Kammerer; Elizabeth A Gettig; Dianxu Ren; Wesley M Rohrer; Heidi S Donovan; Allison Hricik; Alyssa Newberry; Barbara Given Journal: J Neurooncol Date: 2009-01-22 Impact factor: 4.130
Authors: Irina B Grafova; Sharon L Manne; Elisa V Bandera; Biren Saraiya; Adana A M Llanos; Katie A Devine; Shawna V Hudson; Lisa E Paddock; Jennifer Tsui; Jennifer Elliott; Antoinette M Stroup; Paul R Duberstein Journal: Support Care Cancer Date: 2021-05-04 Impact factor: 3.603
Authors: Veena Shankaran; Joseph M Unger; Amy K Darke; Jennifer Marie Suga; James L Wade; Peter J Kourlas; Sreenivasa R Chandana; Mark A O'Rourke; Suma Satti; Diane Liggett; Dawn L Hershman; Scott D Ramsey Journal: J Natl Cancer Inst Date: 2022-03-08 Impact factor: 13.506
Authors: Katherine A Yeager; Whitney E Zahnd; Jan M Eberth; Robin C Vanderpool; Catherine Rohweder; Randall Teal; Maihan Vu; Lindsay Stradtman; Elizabeth L Frost; Erika Trapl; Sarah Koopman Gonzalez; Thuy Vu; Linda K Ko; Allison Cole; Paige E Farris; Jackilen Shannon; Natoshia Askelson; Laura Seegmiller; Arica White; Jean Edward; Melinda Davis; Victoria Petermann; Stephanie B Wheeler Journal: J Cancer Surviv Date: 2022-01-26 Impact factor: 4.062
Authors: Kelsey L Corrigan; Shuangshuang Fu; Ying-Shiuan Chen; Kelsey Kaiser; Michael Roth; Susan K Peterson; Ya-Chen T Shih; Reshma Jagsi; Sharon H Giordano; Robert J Volk; K Robin Yabroff; Mathew P Banegas; Chiara Acquati; Rena M Conti; Hilary Y Ma; Kimberly Ku; Y Nancy You; Grace L Smith Journal: Cancer Date: 2022-04-13 Impact factor: 6.921
Authors: Janet S de Moor; Michelle Mollica; Annie Sampson; Brenda Adjei; Sallie J Weaver; Ann M Geiger; Barnett S Kramer; Emily Grenen; Memi Miscally; Henry P Ciolino Journal: JNCI Cancer Spectr Date: 2021-04-09
Authors: Douglas Fair; Elyse R Park; Ryan D Nipp; Julia Rabin; Kelly Hyland; Karen Kuhlthau; Giselle K Perez; Paul C Nathan; Gregory T Armstrong; Kevin C Oeffinger; Leslie L Robison; Wendy Leisenring; Anne C Kirchhoff Journal: Cancer Date: 2021-06-01 Impact factor: 6.921