Racial differences in employment and cost-management behaviors in patients with metastatic breast cancer

Financial hardship screening among Native American patients with cancer: a qualitative analysis

BACKGROUND

Cancer-related financial hardship is an increasingly recognized concern for patients, families, and caregivers. Many Native American (NA) patients are at increased risk for cancer-related financial hardship due to high prevalence of low income, medical comorbidity, and lack of private health insurance. However, financial hardship screening (FHS) implementation for NA patients with cancer has not been reported. The objective of this study is to explore facilitators and barriers to FHS implementation for NA patients.

METHODS

We conducted key informant interviews with NA patients with cancer and with clinical staff at an academic cancer center. Included patients had a confirmed diagnosis of cancer and were referred to the cancer center through the Indian Health Service, Tribal health program, or Urban Indian health program. Interviews included questions regarding current financial hardship, experiences in discussing financial hardship with the cancer care and primary care teams, and acceptability of completing a financial hardship screening tool at the cancer center. Clinical staff included physicians, advanced practice providers, and social workers. Interviews focused on confidence, comfort, and experience in discussing financial hardship with patients. Recorded interviews were transcribed and thematically analyzed using MAXQDA® software.

RESULTS

We interviewed seven patients and four clinical staff. Themes from the interviews included: 1) existing resources and support services; 2) challenges, gaps in services, and barriers to care; 3) nuances of NA cancer care; and 4) opportunities for improved care and resources. Patients identified financial challenges to receiving cancer care including transportation, lodging, food insecurity, and utility expenses. Patients were willing to complete a FHS tool, but indicated this tool should be short and not intrusive of the patient's financial information. Clinical staff described discomfort in discussing financial hardship with patients, primarily due to a lack of training and knowledge about resources to support patients. Having designated staff familiar with I/T/U systems was helpful, but perspectives differed regarding who should administer FHS.

CONCLUSIONS

We identified facilitators and barriers to implementing FHS for NA patients with cancer at both the patient and clinician levels. Findings suggest clear organizational structures and processes are needed for financial hardship to be addressed effectively.

Characterizing "collateral damage" in men and women with metastatic breast cancer (mBC) from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds in New York City

PURPOSE

Patients from diverse racial, ethnic, and socio-economic backgrounds may be particularly vulnerable to experiencing undue social and financial burdens ("collateral damage") from a metastatic breast cancer (mBC) diagnosis; however, these challenges have not been well explored in diverse populations.

METHODS

From May 2022 to May 2023, English- or Spanish-speaking adults with mBC treated at four New York-Presbyterian (NYP) sites were invited to complete a survey that assessed collateral damage, social determinants of health, physical and psychosocial well-being, and patient-provider communication. Fisher's exact and the Kruskal-Wallis rank-sum tests assessed differences by race and ethnicity.

RESULTS

Of 87 respondents, 14% identified as Hispanic, 28% non-Hispanic Black (NHB), 41% non-Hispanic White (NHW), 7% Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI), and 10% other/multiracial. While 100% of Hispanic, NHW, and AAPI participants reported stable housing, 29% of NHB participants were worried about losing housing (p = 0.002). Forty-two percent of Hispanic and 46% of NHB participants (vs. 8%, NHW and 0%, AAPI, p = 0.005) were food insecure; 18% of Hispanic and 17% of NHB adults indicated lack of reliable transportation in the last year (vs. 0%, NHW/AAPI, p = 0.033). Participants were generally satisfied with the quality of communication that they had with their healthcare providers and overall physical and mental well-being were modestly poorer relative to healthy population norms.

CONCLUSIONS

In our study, NHB and Hispanic mBC patients reported higher levels of financial concern and were more likely to experience food and transportation insecurity compared to NHW patients. Systematically connecting patients with resources to address unmet needs should be prioritized to identify feasible approaches to support economically vulnerable patients following an mBC diagnosis.

Racial and Ethnic Variations in Pre-Diagnosis Comorbidity Burden and Health-Related Quality of Life Among Older Women with Breast Cancer

BACKGROUND

This study examined racial/ethnic differences in comorbidity burden and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among older women before breast cancer diagnosis.

METHODS

From Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare Health Outcomes Survey (SEER-MHOS) linked data resource, 2513 women diagnosed with breast cancer at ≥ 65 years between 1998 and 2012 were identified and grouped based on comorbidity burden using latent class analysis. Pre-diagnosis HRQOL was measured using SF-36/VR-12 and summarized to physical (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS) scores. The adjusted least-square means and 95% confidence intervals were obtained according to comorbidity burden and race/ethnicity. The interactions were examined with 2-way ANOVA.

RESULTS

The latent class analysis revealed four comorbid burden classes, with Class 1 being the most healthy and Class 4 being the least healthy. African American (AA) and Hispanic women were more likely to be in Class 4 than non-Hispanic white (NHW) women (18.6%, 14.8%, and 8.3%, respectively). The mean PCS was 39.3 and differed by comorbidity burden and race/ethnicity (Pinteraction < 0.001). There were no racial/ethnic differences in Classes 1 and 2, while NHW women reported significantly lower PCS scores than AA women in Classes 3 and 4. The mean MCS was 51.4 and differed by comorbidity burden and race/ethnicity (Pinteraction < 0.001). There was no racial/ethnic difference in Class 3; however, AA women reported lower MCS scores than Asian/Pacific Islander women in Class 1, and AA and Hispanic women reported lower MCS scores than NHW women in Classes 2 and 4.

CONCLUSION

Comorbidity burden negatively affected HRQOL but differentially for racial/ethnic groups. As the comorbidity burden increases, NHW women are more concerned with physical HRQOL, while AA and Hispanic women are more concerned with mental HRQOL.

Job Loss and Well-Being Among Chinese American Breast Cancer Survivors: The Mediating Role of Income and Perceived Stress

BACKGROUND

A growing number of studies suggest that job loss has detrimental effects on cancer survivors. However, the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. Furthermore, minorities including Asian American cancer survivors remain understudied, yet they suffer from job loss more often. The present study examined the prevalence of job loss in Chinese American breast cancer survivors (CABCS) and investigated the relationship between job loss and well-being in this group and the underlying mechanisms.

METHOD

CABCS completed a questionnaire that included demographic, employment, and clinical information, as well as measures of psychosocial well-being. Descriptive analyses were conducted to gauge the prevalence of job loss, linear regressions were used to test associations between job loss and well-being, and path analyses were conducted to test mediations.

RESULTS

About 45.4% of survivors lost their job after being diagnosed with cancer, and only 35.2% of those who lost their job regained employment up to the assessment time. Job loss was associated with reduced income, which was associated with higher perceived stress, which, in turn, was associated with lower overall quality of life (QoL) and greater depressive symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings highlight the high prevalence of job loss and its negative effects on QoL and depression among CABCS. It is important for health care professionals to be sensitive to adverse financial events affecting minority BCS. In addition to offering BCS necessary practical assistance, psychosocial interventions focusing on reducing perceived stress associated with the cancer experience may be effective in mitigating some long-term consequences of job loss.

From Race to Racism and Disparities to Equity: An Actionable Biopsychosocial Approach to Breast Cancer Outcomes

PURPOSE

Racial disparities in outcomes of breast cancer in the United States have widened over more than 3 decades, driven by complex biologic and social factors. In this review, we summarize the biological and social narratives that have shaped breast cancer disparities research across different scientific disciplines in the past, explore the underappreciated but crucial ways in which these 2 strands of the breast cancer story are interwoven, and present 5 key strategies for creating transformative interdisciplinary research to achieve equity in breast cancer treatment and outcomes.

DESIGN

We first review the key differences in tumor biology in the United States between patients racialized as Black versus White, including the overrepresentation of triple-negative breast cancer and differences in tumor histologic and molecular features by race for hormone-sensitive disease. We then summarize key social factors at the interpersonal, institutional, and social structural levels that drive inequitable treatment. Next, we explore how biologic and social determinants are interwoven and interactive, including historical and contemporary structural factors that shape the overrepresentation of triple-negative breast cancer among Black Americans, racial differences in tumor microenvironment, and the complex interplay of biologic and social drivers of difference in outcomes of hormone receptor positive disease, including utilization and effectiveness of endocrine therapies and the role of obesity. Finally, we present 5 principles to increase the impact and productivity of breast cancer equity research.

RESULTS

We find that social and biologic drivers of breast cancer disparities are often cyclical and are found at all levels of scientific investigation from cells to society. To break the cycle and effect change, we must acknowledge and measure the role of structural racism in breast cancer outcomes; frame biologic, psychosocial, and access factors as interwoven via mechanisms of cumulative stress, inflammation, and immune modulation; take responsibility for the impact of representativeness (or the lack thereof) in genomic and decision modeling on the ability to accurately predict the outcomes of Black patients; create research that incorporates the perspectives of people of color from inception to implementation; and rigorously evaluate innovations in equitable cancer care delivery and health policies.

CONCLUSIONS

Innovative, cross-disciplinary research across the biologic and social sciences is crucial to understanding and eliminating disparities in breast cancer outcomes.

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Resources of Frontline Oncology Support Personnel Regarding Financial Burden in Patients With Cancer

PURPOSE

Financial navigation services support patients with cancer and address the direct and indirect financial burden of cancer diagnosis and treatment. These services are commonly delivered through a variety of frontline oncology support personnel (FOSP) including navigators, social workers, supportive care providers, and other clinic staff, but the perspective of FOSPs is largely absent from current literature on financial burden in oncology. We surveyed a national sample of FOSPs to understand their perspectives on patient financial burden, resource availability, and barriers and facilitators to assisting patients with cancer-related financial burden.

METHODS

We used Qualtrics online survey software and recruited participants using multiple professional society and interest group mailing lists. Categorical responses were described using frequencies, distributions of numeric survey responses were described using the median and IQR, and two open-ended survey questions were categorized thematically using a priori themes, allowing additional emergent themes.

RESULTS

Two hundred fourteen FOSPs completed this national survey. Respondents reported a high awareness of patient financial burden and felt comfortable speaking to patients about financial concerns. Patient assistance resources were commonly available, but only 15% described resources as sufficient for the observed needs. A substantial portion of respondents reported moral distress related to this lack of resources.

CONCLUSION

FOSPs, who already have requisite knowledge and comfort in discussing patient financial needs, are a critical resource for mitigating cancer-related financial burden. Interventions should leverage this resource but prioritize transparency and efficiency to reduce the administrative and emotional toll on the FOSP workforce and reduce the risk of burnout.

Breast cancer treatment receipt and the role of financial stress, health literacy, and numeracy among diverse breast cancer survivors

PURPOSE

Disparities in breast cancer treatment for low-income and minority women are well documented. We examined economic hardship, health literacy, and numeracy and whether these factors were associated with differences in receipt of recommended treatment among breast cancer survivors.

METHODS

During 2018-2020, we surveyed adult women diagnosed with stage I-III breast cancer between 2013 and 2017 and received care at three centers in Boston and New York. We inquired about treatment receipt and treatment decision-making. We used Chi-squared and Fisher's exact tests to examine associations between financial strain, health literacy, numeracy (using validated measures), and treatment receipt by race and ethnicity.

RESULTS

The 296 participants studied were 60.1% Non-Hispanic (NH) White, 25.0% NH Black, and 14.9% Hispanic; NH Black and Hispanic women had lower health literacy and numeracy and reported more financial concerns. Overall, 21 (7.1%) women declined at least one component of recommended therapy, without differences by race and ethnicity. Those not initiating recommended treatment(s) reported more worry about paying large medical bills (52.4% vs. 27.1%), worse household finances since diagnosis (42.9% vs. 22.2%), and more uninsurance before diagnosis (9.5% vs. 1.5%); all P < .05. No differences in treatment receipt by health literacy or numeracy were observed.

CONCLUSION

In this diverse population of breast cancer survivors, rates of treatment initiation were high. Worry about paying medical bills and financial strain were frequent, especially among non-White participants. Although we observed associations of financial strain with treatment initiation, because few women declined treatments, understanding the scope of impact is limited. Our results highlight the importance of assessments of resource needs and allocation of support for breast cancer survivors. Novelty of this work includes the granular measures of financial strain and inclusion of health literacy and numeracy.

Multidimensional financial hardship among uninsured and insured young adult patients with metastatic breast cancer

BACKGROUND

Little is known about the heterogeneous nature of financial hardship in younger patients with metastatic disease and the extent to which insurance protects against it. We examine the association between insurance status and multidimensional indicators of financial hardship in a national sample of women with metastatic breast cancer.

METHODS

We conducted a national, retrospective online survey in partnership with the Metastatic Breast Cancer Network. Eligible participants were ≥18 years, diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer, and able to respond in English. We estimated multivariate generalized linear models predicting two distinct dimensions of financial hardship-financial insecurity (the ability to afford care and living costs) and financial distress (the extent of emotional/psychological distress experienced due to costs)-as a function of insurance status.

RESULTS

Participants responded from 41 states (N = 1054; median age: 44 years). Overall, 30% were uninsured. Financial insecurity was more frequently reported by uninsured respondents. In adjusted analyses, uninsured participants were more likely than insured participants to report contact by debt collectors (adjusted risk ratio [aRR]: 2.38 [2.06, 2.76]) and being unable to meet monthly expenses (aRR: 2.11 [1.68, 2.66]). Financial distress was reported more frequently by insured participants. For example, insured participants were more likely to worry about future financial problems due to cancer and distress about lack of cost transparency. After adjustment, uninsured participants remained about half as likely as insured participants to report financial distress.

CONCLUSIONS

Young adult women with metastatic cancer reported a high burden of financial toxicity. Importantly, insurance does not protect against financial distress; however, the uninsured are the most materially vulnerable.

Characterizing Cancer and Work Disparities Using Electronic Health Records

Advancements in cancer diagnosis and treatment have resulted in improvements in survivor outcomes; however, cancer survivors are more likely to experience adverse employment outcomes such as job loss, reduced working hours, and early retirement. The purpose of this study was to examine employment disparities among cancer survivors. Our study collected data from 29,136 cancer survivors (ages 18-65) between 2015 and 2021 using electronic health records (EHR) and linked to cancer registry data. Of those with employment information (n = 7296), differences in employment status were explored by race, ethnicity, sex, geography, marital status, education, age, and cancer site. Of the patients with employment status available, 61% were employed, 28% were not employed, 9% were disabled, 2% were retired. Logistic regression results revealed adjusted effects: a positive association between employment and marriage, while racial and ethnic minority adults, rurality, and certain age categories were less likely to be employed. Unadjusted results showed a positive association between employment and education. These results contribute to an emerging body of literature showing adverse employment outcomes for cancer survivors.

Financial toxicity in female patients with breast cancer: a national cross-sectional study in China

PURPOSE

To quantify financial toxicity of female patients with breast cancer in China and investigate its factors and patients' coping strategies.

METHODS

The Comprehensive Score for Financial Toxicity (COST) is defined by using a structured questionnaire containing 12 items measuring perceived affordability of healthcare services, with the range of scoring of which being from 0 to 44 (higher score indicates lower financial toxicity). From January to March 2021, a total of 664 female patients diagnosed with stage 0-IV breast cancer were recruited from 33 public tertiary cancer hospitals located in 31 provinces of China. Multivariate linear regression models were used.

RESULTS

The median age of patients was 48 years (range: 26-84 years), and 62.04% lived in urban areas. The median COST score was 21.00 (interquartile range: 15-26). Older age, higher household income, and better self-reported health status were associated with lower financial toxicity, while a bigger household size, being retired or unemployed, stage IV cancer, and a history of targeted therapy were associated with higher financial toxicity (all P < 0.05). Nearly half of the patients reported using at least one coping strategy, including considering quitting treatment, delaying treatment, and failing to take medicine or attend medical visits as instructed. The people with increased financial toxicity seem to adopt more coping strategies.

CONCLUSIONS

Financial toxicity and coping strategies are common among Chinese women with breast cancer. An understanding of the factors regarding financial toxicity may help oncologists and policy-makers identify at-risk patients and develop targeted interventions.

Use of sickness benefits by patients with metastatic breast cancer-A Swedish cohort study

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence and predictors of sickness absence (SA) and disability pension (DP) in women with metastatic breast cancer (mBC).

METHODS

Data were obtained from Swedish registers concerning 1,240 adult women diagnosed 1997-2011 with mBC, from 1 year before (y-1) to 2 (y1) and 2 (y2) years after diagnosis. SA and DP prevalence was calculated. Odds ratios (AOR) were determined for factors associated with using long-term (SA > 180 days or DP > 0 days) sickness benefits.

RESULTS

Prevalence of SA and DP was 56.0% and 24.8% during y-1, 69.9% and 28.9% during y1, and 64.0% and 34.7% during y2, respectively. Odds of using long-term sickness benefits were higher y1 and y2 in patients using long-term sickness benefits the year before diagnosis (AOR = 3.82, 95% CI 2.91-5.02; AOR = 4.31, 95% CI 2.96-6.29, respectively) and y2 in patients with mBC diagnosis 1997-2000 (AOR = 1.84, 95% CI 1.10-3.08) and using long-term sickness benefits the year after diagnosis (AOR = 22.10, 95% CI 14.33-34.22).

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of sickness benefit utilisation was high and increased after mBC diagnosis, particularly for patients using long-term sickness benefits prior to diagnosis. Additional study is needed to determine factors that might reduce the need for sickness benefits and enhance work ability in these patients.

Unmet needs and problems related to employment and working as reported by survivors with metastatic breast cancer

PURPOSE

By 2020, the US population living with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) has exceeded 165,000. A knowledge gap exists regarding the factors affecting work ability for these individuals. We sought to characterize the work status, importance of work, and work-related information needs for women living with MBC.

METHODS

We conducted an online survey using an MBC listserv and clinic flyers in 2014-2015. Respondents working at the time of MBC diagnosis were divided into "stably-working" and "no-longer-working" based on employment status at the time of survey. Comparisons were made with chi-square or two-tailed t test.

RESULTS

Respondents (n = 133) were predominantly non-Hispanic White (93.2%); 72 were stably-working, while 61 reported no-longer-working. Those no-longer-working were older (54.0 vs 49.5 years old, p < 0.01, Cohen's d = 0.55), further from initial diagnosis of MBC (4.6 vs 3.3 years, p < 0.01, Cohen's d = 0.36), and reported high rates of life interference due to MBC (n = 51, 83.6% vs n = 39, 54.2%, p < 0.01, Cramer's V = 0.32). Stably-working respondents considered work to be important (n = 58, 80.5% vs n = 18, 29.5%, p < 0.01, Cramer's V = 0.57); the top reasons cited were financial and/or insurance (80.4%), importance of staying busy (67.9%), and desire to support themselves and family (64.3%). The stably-working respondents more often valued information on how to talk with employers or co-workers about diagnosis (n = 38, 57.6% vs n = 16, 27.1%; p < 0.01), legal rights in workplace (n = 43, 65.2% vs n = 22, 36.7%; p < 0.01), when to think about stopping work (n = 45, 68.2% vs n = 18, 30%; p < 0.01), and applying for disability (n = 42, 63.6% vs n = 26, 42.6%; p < 0.05), when compared to no-longer-working.

CONCLUSION

The decision to stop working may represent a subsequent event driven by cancer progression. This research highlights the ongoing need of information targeting MBC to facilitate the management of employment and financial issues early in the MBC trajectory.

Understanding the financial and psychological impact of employment disruption among caregivers of pediatric HSCT recipients: a mixed methods analysis

PURPOSE

Pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) confers a substantial financial burden onto patients' families. In addition to high direct medical costs, HSCTs typically require at least one caregiver to take time away from work or other responsibilities, often leading to reduced household income. Using mixed methods, we sought to understand the impact of pediatric HSCT on caregiver employment and financial need.

METHODS

We surveyed caregivers of living pediatric patients who underwent HSCT at one of two southeastern transplant centers between 2012 and 2018 (N = 95). We then interviewed a subset of caregivers (N = 18) to understand whether and how employment disruption contributed to financial distress.

RESULTS

Among caregivers surveyed, the majority of household wage earners changed their work schedules to attend medical appointments and missed workdays. This resulted in income loss for 87% of families, with 31% experiencing an income reduction of over 50%. Qualitative interviews pointed to four emergent themes: (1) employment disruption exacerbated existing financial challenges; (2) parental division of labor between caregiving and providing financially led to heightened psychological distress; (3) existing employment leave and protection resources were essential but not sufficient; and (4) the ability to work remotely and having a supportive employer facilitated employment maintenance throughout the HSCT process.

CONCLUSION

Expanded employment protections and access to accommodations are needed to limit the impact of HSCT on household income, health insurance, and financial hardship. Additionally, interventions are needed to ensure caregivers are equipped with the information necessary to navigate conversations with employers and prepare for the financial and psychological reality of employment disruption.

Financial Toxicity and Shared Decision Making in Oncology

Oncologists are often ill-prepared for patient-provider communication about the financial costs and burden of treatment. Several barriers to cost communication exist, including provider discomfort, lack of knowledge or access to accurate information, and background historic concerns that cost discussions may negatively impact the doctor-patient relationship. However, clear and transparent cost communication can yield cost-reducing strategies that ultimately mitigate the high costs of cancer care and risk for financial toxicity.

Unequal distribution of financial toxicity among people with cancer and its impact on access to care: a rapid review

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Research demonstrates that patients and their families often carry a good portion of the economic burden during and following cancer treatment, frequently resulting in implications for access to care. This rapid review summarizes how this knowledge has evolved in recent years.

RECENT FINDINGS

The number of articles on patient financial burden is increasing, suggesting awareness about the growing impact of economic burden on patients. This is particularly evident when discussing out-of-pocket costs, and lost work for patients/caregivers. However, there is an increasing focus on 'foregone care' and 'financial distress'. Additionally, emerging literature is examining policies and approaches to screen and/or mitigate these patient financial risks, thereby improving access to care. There is also increasing focus on populations that shoulder a disproportionate financial burden, including ethnic minorities (blacks, Asians, Latinos) as well as those with lower socioeconomic status. Additionally, there is evidence that this burden also affects the middle class.

SUMMARY

As healthcare budgets become stretched, especially during a pandemic, supportive programs benefiting the less fortunate often shrink, which impacts access to care. The emerging research on strategies with government or institutions to mitigate these burdens and access issues are both welcome and needed.

Racial and Ethnic Differences in the Financial Consequences of Cancer-Related Employment Disruption

Introduction

Cancer-related employment disruption contributes to financial toxicity and associated clinical outcomes through income loss and changes in health insurance and may not be uniformly experienced. We examined racial/ethnic differences in the financial consequences of employment disruption.

Methods

We surveyed a national sample of cancer patients employed at diagnosis who had received assistance from a national nonprofit about the impact of cancer diagnosis and treatment on employment. We used logistic regression models to examine racial/ethnic differences in income loss and changes in health insurance coverage.

Results

Of 619 cancer patients included, 63% identified as Non-Hispanic/Latinx (NH) White, 18% as NH Black, 9% as Hispanic/Latinx, 5% as other racial/ethnic identities, and 5% unreported. Over 83% reported taking a significant amount of time off from work during cancer diagnosis and treatment, leading to substantial income loss for 64% and changes in insurance coverage for 31%. NH Black respondents had a 10.2 percentage point (95% CI: 4.8 – 19.9) higher probability of experiencing substantial income loss compared to NH White respondents, and Hispanic or Latinx respondents had a 12.4 percentage point (95% CI: 0.3 – 24.5) higher probability compared to NH White respondents, controlling for clinical characteristics (i.e., cancer type, stage and age at diagnosis, and time since diagnosis). Similarly, NH Black respondents had a 9.3 percentage point (95% CI: -0.7 – 19.3) higher probability of experiencing changes in health insurance compared to NH White respondents, and Hispanic or Latinx respondents had a 10.0 percentage point (95% CI: -3.0 – 23.0) higher probability compared to NH White respondents.

Discussion

Compared with NH White respondents, NH Black and Hispanic/Latinx respondents more commonly reported employment-related income loss and health insurance changes. Given documented racial/ethnic differences in job types, benefit generosity, and employment protections as a result of historic marginalization, policies to reduce employment disruption and its associated financial impact must be developed with a racial equity lens.

Breast Cancer-Related Employment Disruption and Financial Hardship in the Sister Study

Background

More than one-half of breast cancer cases are diagnosed among women aged younger than 62 years, which may result in employment challenges. This study examined whether cancer-related employment disruption was associated with increased financial hardship in a national US study of women with breast cancer.

Methods

Women with breast cancer who were enrolled in the Sister or Two Sister Studies completed a survivorship survey in 2012. Employment disruption was defined as stopping work completely or working fewer hours after diagnosis. Financial hardship was defined as: 1) experiencing financial problems paying for cancer care, 2) borrowing money or incurring debt, or 3) filing for bankruptcy because of cancer. Prevalence ratios and 95% confidence intervals for the association between employment disruption and financial hardship were estimated using multivariable Poisson regression with robust variance.

Results

We analyzed data from women employed at diagnosis (n = 1628). Women were a median age of 48 years at diagnosis and 5.6 years from diagnosis at survey completion. Overall, 27.3% of women reported employment disruption (15.4% stopped working; 11.9% reduced hours), and 21.0% experienced financial hardship (16.0% had difficulty paying for care; 12.6% borrowed money or incurred debt; 1.8% filed for bankruptcy). In adjusted analysis, employment disruption was associated with nearly twice the prevalence of financial hardship (prevalence ratio = 1.93, 95% confidence interval = 1.58 to 2.35).

Conclusions

Women experiencing employment disruptions after breast cancer may be more vulnerable to financial hardship. Findings highlight the need to target risk factors for employment disruption, facilitate return to work or ongoing employment, and mitigate financial consequences after cancer.

Current Practices for Screening and Addressing Financial Hardship within the NCI Community Oncology Research Program

BACKGROUND

Cancer-related financial hardship is associated with poor care outcomes and reduced quality of life for patients and families. Scalable intervention development to address financial hardship requires knowledge of current screening practices and services within community cancer care.

METHODS

The NCI Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP) 2017 Landscape Assessment survey assessed financial screening and financial navigation practices within U.S. community oncology practices. Logistic models evaluated associations between financial hardship screening and availability of a cancer-specific financial navigator and practice group characteristics (e.g., safety-net designation, critical access hospital, proportion of racial and ethnic minority patients served).

RESULTS

Of 221 participating NCORP practice groups, 72% reported a financial screening process and 50% had a cancer-specific financial navigator. Practice groups with more than 10% of new patients with cancer enrolled in Medicaid (_adjOR = 2.81, P = 0.02) and with less than 30% racial/ethnic minority cancer patient composition (_adjOR = 3.91, P < 0.01) were more likely to screen for financial concerns. Practice groups with less than 30% racial/ethnic minority cancer patient composition (_adjOR = 2.37, P < 0.01) were more likely to have a dedicated financial navigator or counselor for patients with cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

Most NCORP practice groups screen for financial concerns and half have a cancer-specific financial navigator. Practices serving more racial or ethnic minority patients are less likely to screen and have a designated financial navigator.

IMPACT

The effectiveness of financial screening and navigation for mitigating financial hardship could be tested within NCORP, along with specific interventions to address cancer care inequities.See related commentary by Yabroff et al., p. 593.

Material and psychological financial hardship related to employment disruption among female adolescent and young adult cancer survivors

BACKGROUND

The importance of addressing adverse financial effects of cancer among adolescents and young adults (AYAs) is paramount as survival improves. In the current study, the authors examined whether cancer-related employment disruption was associated with financial hardship among female AYA cancer survivors in North Carolina and California.

METHODS

AYA cancer survivors identified through the North Carolina Central Cancer Registry and the Kaiser Permanente Northern/Southern California tumor registries responded to an online survey. Disrupted employment was defined as reducing hours, taking temporary leave, or stopping work completely because of cancer. Financial hardship was defined as material conditions or psychological distress related to cancer. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were used to characterize the invited sample and survey respondents. Marginal structural binomial regression models were used to estimate prevalence differences (PDs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs).

RESULTS

Among 1328 women employed at the time of their diagnosis, women were a median age of 34 years at the time of diagnosis and 7 years from diagnosis at the time of the survey and approximately 32% experienced employment disruption. A substantial percentage reported financial hardship related to material conditions (27%) or psychological distress (50%). In adjusted analyses, women with disrupted employment had a 17% higher burden of material conditions (95% CI, 10%-23%) and an 8% higher burden of psychological distress (95% CI, 1%-16%) compared with those without disruption.

CONCLUSIONS

Financial hardship related to employment disruption among female AYA cancer survivors can be substantial. Interventions to promote job maintenance and transition back to the workforce after treatment, as well as improved workplace accommodations and benefits, present an opportunity to improve cancer survivorship.