Individual- and community-level risk factors of cancer-related financial hardship among cancer survivors

Individual- and community-level risk factors of cancer-related financial hardship among cancer survivors
JAMA Network Open; Apoorv Dhir, MD; Kristian Donald Stensland, MD, MS, MPH; Lindsey Allison Herrel, MD, MS; Rishi Robert Sekar, MD, MS; 8/24
Cancer survivors face substantial economic hardships during and after oncologic care, compounding the physical and psychosocial implications of a cancer diagnosis and compromising treatment adherence, quality of life, and survival. In this cross-sectional study, approximately 50% of cancer survivors experienced cancer-related financial hardship, with a disproportionate number of survivors who were younger, were Medicare or Medicaid beneficiaries, were socioeconomically disadvantaged, and had advanced disease. Although policy efforts to curb the costs of cancer care are essential, acknowledging the role of community and structural barriers and identifying socially vulnerable populations for targeted interventions represent a potential strategy toward mitigating financial hardship and delivering equitable cancer care.