People with cancer and their caregivers bear the cost of cancer in many ways – not just physically and mentally, but also financially. A recent report released by the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) reveals that the average person living with cancer in Canada will incur a cost of nearly $33,000 over their lifetime.
We’re sharing 5 ways a cancer diagnosis can lead to financial difficulties for families and caregivers, how CCS is helping ease these costs for patients and their loved ones, and what you can do to help make cancer more affordable.
1. Prescription drugs
When Vanessa Percoco was diagnosed with advanced cancer, she didn’t expect to pay so much money out-of-pocket. In one year, she paid over $4,000 in prescription drug bills.
“It was a huge financial load to carry,” Vanessa says. “There were months when I wondered how I was going to pay the rent. The end of every month was a source of stress because I knew I’d have to call my dad and ask him for the money that I was short.”
2. Home care and devices
Home care services include having a nurse or personal support worker help with tasks such as administering medication and bathing. There is considerable variation from one province or territory to another in who is eligible for subsidies for home care services and medical equipment, such as assistive devices that help with mobility. The result is that many of these costs are carried by patients and caregivers.
3. Family care and homemaking services
When a family member receives a cancer diagnosis, caregiving becomes more complex and demanding. Many families pay out of pocket for homemaking services to help with household chores, and they hire professionals to care for their children and elders when they are unable to do so themselves.
4. Lost earnings
Many people are unable to continue working during treatment, and this leads to a significant loss of income – including medical benefits, just when they’re needed the most. In addition, caregivers often have to take time away from work to help their loved ones get to and from treatment, and support them in other ways.
Natalie Lipschultz and her husband felt how overwhelming the financial strain can be when Natalie lost her job – and her benefits – while she was undergoing treatment.
“I needed my benefits because of what I was going through,” Natalie says. “My husband was going back to school at the time, so there was just lots and lots of financial strain to afford our bills.”
5. Travel-related expenses and accommodations
Travel-related expenses include transportation costs like gas and transit fares, but they also include parking fees, which can add up when people go through treatment. Accommodations are often needed when treatment is far from home, and this can be another costly expense.
How CCS can help with the cost of cancer
As a nationwide charity, CCS offers support services to help alleviate the financial burden of cancer. Click below to learn more about:
- Transportation services to get safely to and from treatment
- Affordable accommodation when receiving cancer treatment far from home
- Wigs and breast accessories at no cost to people living with cancer
- CancerConnection.ca, a 24/7 online forum for support and connection
What you can do to take action
It takes a society to take on cancer and the financial burden that comes with it. CCS is uniting voices across the country to help shape healthier public policy to improve the lives of people affected by cancer. Join us by raising your voice to rally governments at all levels to work together and help make cancer more affordable.