November 23, 2017 – Cost of Cancer Care

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Anchor lead: Most of those undergoing care for cancer are concerned about costs, Elizabeth Tracey reports

Many people really aren’t aware of cancer risk factors, even common ones, a recent Gallup survey showed. The same survey also demonstrated just how financially burdensome cancer treatment is. William Nelson, director of the Kimmel Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, describes the findings.

Nelson: They or their family member had tried to intentionally reduce the costs of the healthcare burden of suffering cancer in some way. It was roughly seven to nine percent each had either skipped doctor’s appointments, not filled prescriptions, skipped taking a medicine, cut pills in half to extend them, some kind of tactic to reduce the financial burden. Clearly there is a burden of cancer and cancer care what you see is people remarking in a survey like this that they’re taking steps, and maybe not very good ones, for cancer outcomes. :32

Nelson says cancer patients and their loved ones should bring financial concerns to their caregiver, since such stresses can impact treatment. At Johns Hopkins, I’m Elizabeth Tracey.