Cost of Care and Prescription Meds Put Strain and Stress on AYA Survivors

Note: This article originally appeared April 22, 2021 on the Chidren’s Cancer Cause website. 

Survivors of adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancers face greater financial hardship in adulthood than adults without a cancer history, according to a study published this month in The Journal of the National Cancer Institute. This adds to a growing body of research about the significant financial burden of a cancer diagnosis, an issue Children’s Cancer Cause has been focused on for many years. 

This new study identified some of the specific financial burdens for AYA survivors, including problems and worries about paying medical bills. Researchers found that survivors of AYA cancers are more likely than adults without a cancer history to delay or forgo care and/or prescription medications due to cost. 

“The financial health of AYA survivors may never recover after cancer diagnosis without appropriate clinical and policy intervention,” wrote the authors in a companion article proposing directions for future research. “Employment disruption and employment discrimination are key areas for AYAs. Another area for future research is how best to identify and address financial anxiety. Financial hardship remains a huge burden for AYAs, and clinicians and researchers should prioritize addressing these outcomes.” 

At the Children’s Cancer Cause, we’ve been closely studying financial toxicity in childhood cancer survivors for many years and working to identify policy solutions. In a survey we conducted in partnership with the Patient Advocate Foundation in 2017-2018, we found: 

As we look ahead toward emerging on the other side of the pandemic, we continue to gather input on the ongoing needs and concerns of childhood cancer families and survivors that could potentially be addressed through legislative or policy proposals. Learning about your family’s experience is a vital part of this work: Take the survey. 

Reprinted with permission from Children’s Cancer Cause. 

• The In-Betweeners: A Focus on Young Adults with Cancer
• The Role of Community Partners in Serving AYA Patients
• Cancer Care Considerations for Sexual and Gender Minority Patients
• Twisting Out Cancer