Americans Who Survive Cancer Face Significant Economic Burden

Most cancer survivors in the United States experience a significant economic burden, according to a new federal report.

A study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention highlights that soaring medical costs, health insurance access and reduced productivity at work have a drastic impact due to which cancer survivors face a heavy financial burden.

 "Cancer survivors face physical, emotional, psychosocial, employment and financial challenges as a result of their cancer diagnosis and treatment," said Donatus U. Ekwueme, PhD, a senior health economist at CDC's Division of Cancer Prevention and Control. "With the number of cancer survivors expected to increase by more than 30 percent in the next decade - to 18 million Americans -- medical and public health professionals must be diligent in their efforts to help reduce the burden of cancer on survivors and their families."

For this study, to estimate the annual medical costs and productivity losses among cancer survivors (18 years and older) and those without a cancer diagnosis, researchers analyzed data from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's 2008-2011 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. The researchers estimated reduced productivity by analyzing employment disability, health related missed work and the number of days spent in bed due to ill health.

The annual medical costs of male cancer survivors from 2008-2011 was more than $8,000 per person and productivity was less than $3,700 compared to males without a history of cancer. Among females the medical cost per person was $8,400 and productivity loss was $4,000.

Females were more likely to survive cancer. Among cancer survivors, employment disability accounted for 75 percent of lost productivity. Nearly 10 percent of survivors of age 65 and younger were uninsured.

The authors noted, "Nearly 32 percent of survivors experienced limitations in their usual daily activities outside of work because of cancer. Among those employed, more than 42 percent had to make changes to their work hours and duties. Comprehensive health and employment intervention programs may be needed to improve outcomes for cancer survivors and their families."