All.Can Patient Survey

4. The financial impact of cancer Respondents frequently spoke of the financial impact that cancer had on their lives – not just in terms of components of their care they may have had to pay for themselves, but also the cost of travel to medical appointments, childcare or household help, lost income from employment, and difficulties in getting insurance, mortgages or loans as a result of their cancer diagnosis. More than half of respondents ( 51% ) paid for some part of their overall cancer care themselves , either out-of-pocket or through private insurance. Respondents highlighted that this often created significant financial pressure for their families. Apart from any possible care costs incurred, 36% of respondents also referred to significant travel costs (i.e. to and from the hospital or clinic), and 26% to loss of employment income – with those who were self-employed and caring for young children being especially vulnerable to financial insecurity due to their cancer diagnosis. A recurring theme among respondents was that the financial implications of cancer could last a lifetime , in terms of people’s ability to find or keep employment, reduced productivity for themselves and their caregivers , and an inability to get insurance or loans – even years after their treatment was finished. Conclusions Findings from this survey identify some important areas where cancer patients have highlighted from personal experience that improvements are needed. They align with other findings from patient surveys in the literature, as well as the views of patient organisations in the All.Can network. These themes are intrinsically important as they represent respondents’ perceptions of their care. As we strive to improve the efficiency of cancer care, we must ensure that the patient perspective is always central to our definitions and aims. Each of the areas identified represents an opportunity to improve cancer care for patients. We need to give these issues due prominence in future cancer plans, policies and investment decisions to build truly patient-driven care. We need to develop integrated health and social policies to address the wide-reaching impact cancer can have on all aspects of people’s lives. Making these changes could lead to real differences – to patients’ outcomes, their experience of care and the financial impact cancer has on them, their families and ultimately on the health system and society as a whole. 10