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U.S. money
A recent survey suggests Americans are nearly as worried about the cost of a cancer diagnosis as they are about dying from cancer.
The cost of cancer care was a top concern even among people who had no prior experience with cancer.
At the same time, cancer patients/survivors admitted to delaying or forgoing care due to costs, and caregivers reported taking “dramatic” actions to pay for their loved one’s care.
These are findings from the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)’s second annual National Cancer Opinion Survey.
The survey was conducted online by The Harris Poll from July 10, 2018, to August 10, 2018. It included 4,887 U.S. adults age 18 and older—1,001 of whom have or had cancer.
Cost among top concerns
Death and pain/suffering were the top concerns related to a cancer diagnosis. Fifty-four percent of respondents said death would be one of their greatest concerns if they were diagnosed with cancer, and the same percentage rated pain/suffering a top concern.
Forty-four percent of respondents said paying for cancer treatment would be a top concern, and 45% said the same about the financial impact of a cancer diagnosis on their family. When combined, financial issues were a top concern for 57% of respondents.
Paying for treatment was a top concern for:
- 36% of respondents who had/have cancer
- 51% of caregivers
- 43% of people with no prior cancer experience.
The financial impact on family was a top concern for:
- 39% of respondents who had/have cancer
- 55% of caregivers
- 42% of people with no prior cancer experience.
Cutting costs
Sixty-one percent of caregivers surveyed said they or another relative have taken a “dramatic” step to help pay for their loved one’s care, including:
- Dipping into savings accounts (35%)
- Working extra hours (23%)
- Taking an early withdrawal from a retirement account or college fund (14%)
- Postponing retirement (14%)
- Taking out a second mortgage or other type of loan (13%)
- Taking an additional job (13%)
- Selling family heirlooms (9%).
Twenty percent of cancer patients/survivors said they have taken actions to reduce treatment costs, including:
- Delaying scans (7%)
- Skipping or delaying appointments (7%)
- Skipping doses of prescribed treatment (6%)
- Postponing or not filling prescriptions (5%)
- Refusing treatment (3%).
“Patients are right to be concerned about the financial impact of a cancer diagnosis on their families,” said Richard L. Schilsky, MD, ASCO’s chief medical officer.
“It’s clear that high treatment costs are taking a serious toll not only on patients, but also on the people who care for them. If a family member has been diagnosed with cancer, the sole focus should be helping them get well. Instead, Americans are worrying about affording treatment, and, in many cases, they’re making serious personal sacrifices to help pay for their loved ones’ care.”