ASPO Abstracts
Examining the Costs of Surviving Cancer
Category: Financial Hardship Associated with Cancer
Conference Year: 2020
Abstract Body:
Purpose: Financial challenges among cancer patients and their informal caregivers have been
quantified, but less is known about the lived experience of financial hardship as a result of a
cancer diagnosis. We documented experiences of financial hardship, choices made, and
knowledge gained among sociodemographically diverse cancer survivors and their informal
caregivers. Methods: This qualitative study was part of the Comprehensive History of
Individuals' Cancer Experience (CHOICE) Project. CHOICE used a sequential explanatory
design. The first phase consisted of a quantitative survey with 394 population-based breast,
colorectal, and prostate cancer survivors, while the next phase, detailed here, included 19 semi-
structured, qualitative interviews with a subset of survivors and informal caregivers. Interview
transcripts were coded using grounded theory and analyzed to assess common themes and
areas of unmet need. Results: Four key themes were identified: difficulty paying bills, coping
mechanisms, support systems, and issues with resources. Survivors and caregivers both noted
experiences of financial-induced stress, but the specific stressors were varied. Similarly, a wide
variety of coping mechanisms were used to address financial challenges. Survivors and
caregivers reported having to decide between paying for recommended medical care and being
able to afford basic necessities. The long-term financial impact of a cancer diagnosis was
repeatedly described by survivors. Conclusion: Financial hardship often resulted in material and
psychological distress among both survivors and informal caregivers. Interventions to prevent
or minimize the financial challenges experienced by both survivors and their informal caregivers
are urgently needed to improve social and clinical outcomes.
Keywords: Financial hardship Survivors Informal caregivers Disparities