TY - JOUR
T1 - Experienced financial toxicity among long-term cancer survivors
T2 - results from a national cross-sectional survey
AU - Klok, Jente M.
AU - Duijts, Saskia F. A.
AU - Engelen, Vivian
AU - Masselink, Roel
AU - Dingemans, Anne-Marie C.
AU - Aerts, Joachim G. J. V.
AU - Lingsma, Hester F.
AU - van Klaveren, David
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2024.
PY - 2024/9/3
Y1 - 2024/9/3
N2 - Purpose: Financial toxicity, the subjective distress caused by objective financial burden, significantly impacts cancer survivors. Yet, enduring effects on survivors remain unclear. Therefore, we investigated the experienced objective financial burden and subjective financial distress in long-term cancer survivors. Methods: A cross-sectional nationwide online survey of adult cancer survivors ≥ 5y after diagnosis were analyzed. Objective financial burden was measured via extra expenses and income loss, while subjective financial distress covered psychological well-being, coping and support-seeking behavior, and financial concerns. Groups were compared (i.e., having cancer vs. former patients) by t-tests and chi-squared tests. Financial toxicity was visualized with Sankey plots and sunburst diagrams. Results: 4,675 respondents completed the survey, of whom 2,391 (51%) were ≥ 5y after their cancer diagnosis. Among them, 75% experienced income loss and/or extra expenses after diagnosis. One-third of the previously employed respondents relied on work disability benefits. Further, ‘being unable to make ends meet’ increased from 2% before diagnosis to 13% ≥ 5y after diagnosis (p <.001). Additionally, 58% reported negative psychological impacts of financial toxicity, and 47% worried about their financial future. Conclusions: Cancer survivors often face income loss and additional expenses, leading to ongoing financial difficulties that affect their psychological well-being. Despite this significant impact, there is a lack of guidance and support to help them manage these financial challenges. These findings highlight the need for healthcare professionals to recognize and address the financial challenges. Implications for Cancer Survivors: This study underscores the widespread financial challenges cancer survivors encounter, emphasizing the need for ongoing financial support and comprehensive assessments of their physical and psychological well-being.
AB - Purpose: Financial toxicity, the subjective distress caused by objective financial burden, significantly impacts cancer survivors. Yet, enduring effects on survivors remain unclear. Therefore, we investigated the experienced objective financial burden and subjective financial distress in long-term cancer survivors. Methods: A cross-sectional nationwide online survey of adult cancer survivors ≥ 5y after diagnosis were analyzed. Objective financial burden was measured via extra expenses and income loss, while subjective financial distress covered psychological well-being, coping and support-seeking behavior, and financial concerns. Groups were compared (i.e., having cancer vs. former patients) by t-tests and chi-squared tests. Financial toxicity was visualized with Sankey plots and sunburst diagrams. Results: 4,675 respondents completed the survey, of whom 2,391 (51%) were ≥ 5y after their cancer diagnosis. Among them, 75% experienced income loss and/or extra expenses after diagnosis. One-third of the previously employed respondents relied on work disability benefits. Further, ‘being unable to make ends meet’ increased from 2% before diagnosis to 13% ≥ 5y after diagnosis (p <.001). Additionally, 58% reported negative psychological impacts of financial toxicity, and 47% worried about their financial future. Conclusions: Cancer survivors often face income loss and additional expenses, leading to ongoing financial difficulties that affect their psychological well-being. Despite this significant impact, there is a lack of guidance and support to help them manage these financial challenges. These findings highlight the need for healthcare professionals to recognize and address the financial challenges. Implications for Cancer Survivors: This study underscores the widespread financial challenges cancer survivors encounter, emphasizing the need for ongoing financial support and comprehensive assessments of their physical and psychological well-being.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85203009243&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s11764-024-01668-2
DO - 10.1007/s11764-024-01668-2
M3 - Article
C2 - 39225899
SN - 1932-2259
JO - Journal of Cancer Survivorship
JF - Journal of Cancer Survivorship
ER -
