Financial toxicity occurs when a patient’s well-being and treatment suffer due to high costs. This burden varies from person to person, including medical and non-medical expenses.
Cancer patients are no exception: over 25% of them face financial toxicity, a global issue. To avoid hefty bills, they may delay medical appointments, putting their health at risk and making the disease more life-threatening.
As an example, if a patient who lives in Pune, is suffering from pancreatic cancer, then finding the best pancreatic cancer treatment in Pune might seem an appropriate decision but financial toxicity while starting with diagnosis can persist after treatment is initiated.
It disproportionately affects those who are socioeconomically disadvantaged. In this blog, we will tackle and guide you through these financial challenges.
Financial Toxicity Can Affect Cancer Care
Cancer treatment can break the bank, causing financial distress that’s more than most people can handle. To cut costs, patients may risk their health by:
Taking less dose of medicine than prescribed by the doctor
Skipping medicine doses
Not buying prescribed drugs to save money
Missing appointments
Declined health care
This can lead to health complications. Prolonged cancer treatment, which some patients need for years, can drain their finances and emotional reserves.
Financially Toxicity Can Affect Lifestyle
Financial toxicity can cause mental, emotional, and financial distress. People might face:
anxiety and depression
worrying about their cancer returning
feeling unhappy
lower health quality with several symptoms and pain
For some people, cancer may lead to debt or bankruptcy.
Who Can Get Effect by Financial Toxicity
There are various factors that can lead to financial toxicity. These factors include race, age, income, and much more.
- Uninsured or Underinsured People
People lacking adequate health insurance may struggle to afford cancer treatment and related costs, which can lead to financial strain. - Low-Income
Low income can pose challenges for individuals and their families. This can lead to financial hardship and debt. - Patients With Multiple Chronic Conditions
Patients with other illnesses like pancreatic cancer may find it hard to manage cancer health treatment, which can heighten the risk of financial toxicity. - Teens, Elderly and Children
Teens and young people might suffer more from financial toxicity. Inadequate or no health insurance can leave them in debt. Older adults and people with certain types of cancer may also suffer from this. Survivors of childhood cancer can delay or limit their work potential, making it hard for a person to sustain a stable or financially good job. - Family and Friends
Family members as well as friends of the patient may also suffer from financial toxicity.
How to Manage Financial Toxicity
There are several ways to manage, reduce, or prevent financial distress. Here are a few ways you can control it:
Discuss your concerns with your healthcare professionals, as they might be the ones who will easily understand. Try to have this conversation before your treatment starts.
Connect with your health insurance manager. Understand the benefits of your health insurance services and how much it can cover. They can also help you to make the right financial decisions and what you may owe.
You can contact support organizations They might be able to help you with your bills, and medications, and in many cases, they help to organize a fund-raiser.
Keep a check on your paperwork and bills, doing this will help you handle the medical payments.
Conclusion
In conclusion, financial toxicity is a huge concern, especially for cancer patients, which can affect both their finances and well-being. So following the example of a pancreatic cancer patient, finding the best pancreatic cancer treatment in Pune may seem wise. Still, by understanding what causes this distress, you can explore strategies and reduce the chances of financial hardships.
Remember, to clear your concerns with the health professionals.
