Patients with cancer want their care team to assess them early in treatment about their concerns related to costs of care, reports a Northwestern Medicine study. It is the first time a study has sought cancer patients' input on how they want to be screened for financial needs. The financial impact of treatment, referred to as financial toxicity, includes direct costs, such as how much a patient directly pays the hospital for a surgery, and indirect costs, such as the amount of money a patient doesn't earn when they take off a day of work to go to an appointment.
Prior research has shown that cancer patients who experience financial toxicity have worse quality of life and may be at higher risk of death. An early financial assessment can identify patients at risk, but there isn't a consensus on appropriate timing or methods for financial screening. The study will be published Sept.
17 in JCO Oncology Practice . "The psychological toll of financial toxicity or the stress and worry that comes with such financial concerns is particularly distressing for patients who are already going through the difficulties of cancer treatment," said study corresponding author Dr. Laila A.
Gharzai, assistant professor of radiation oncology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and a Northwestern Medicine physician. The study surveyed 738 patients who were primarily women battling breast cancer. It showed that most patients prefer their providers reach out regarding financial need.