Bladder cancer can cause serious money problems for patients during treatment, according to a recent review published in the Journal of Surgical Oncology.
Researchers use the term “financial toxicity” to refer to the negative impact caused by the high medical costs of cancer treatment on patients and their families. Studies show that about 30% to 50% of cancer patients have medium to severe financial toxicity.
This problem is even more common in people with bladder cancer, because bladder cancer treatment often lasts a long time, the cancer can come back many times and the medicines can be very expensive.
“Financial toxicity may lead to treatment delays or discontinuation, and can also trigger psychological distress such as depression and anxiety, which are associated with a decline in survival rates,” the review’s authors said.
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The review explained that several things can affect how much financial stress a patient has. Age matters, but different countries show different patterns. In Western countries, younger patients often have more money problems because they may need to stop working. In China, middle-aged and older patients may have more trouble due to disparities in benefit levels that create a financial burden.
According to the review, people with less education, lower income and no job often experience higher financial toxicity.
Where a person lives also matters. People in remote areas tend to experience more financial toxicity because they need to travel long distances to cities where medical resources are concentrated, increasing transportation, time and accommodation costs.
The type of illness and treatment also affects cost. Patients with later-stage cancer, longer illness or major surgery usually pay more. Late diagnosis can make treatment harder and more expensive.
Insurance is another important factor. Patients with poor coverage and high out-of-pocket costs often feel more financial stress.
More research is needed to develop support programs that lighten the financial burden on patients, the review’s authors concluded.
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