Cost of Cancer to the Patient

The articles in the latest issue of Cancer Forum provide a valuable overview of the research into the cost of cancer to the patient and their families. Although healthcare in Australia is largely publicly funded, there are out-of-pocket costs associated with diagnosis, treatment and survival, even in the public system. In Australia, people with cancer report relatively high out-of-pocket health costs and a heavy burden of out-of-pocket costs relative to income.
 Unemployment and reduced employment after a cancer diagnosis is associated with reduced financial reserves, impaired quality of life, and possibly reduced survival.

Cancer Forum,Vol 41 (2), 2017