Financial Impact of Cancer Treatment
SEPTEMBER 2018
A Survey by The Pink Fund – Young Survivors
Financial Impact of Cancer Treatment
New Survey Shows the Increased Financial Burden on Breast Cancer’s Youngest Survivors.
In summer 2018, The Pink Fund conducted a survey to gather insights on the financial burdens faced specifically by breast cancer patients who were under 40 years of age at the time of diagnosis.
The results paint a startling picture of the devastating financial toll a battle with breast cancer can take on younger patients who have not yet built up adequate financial reserves to mitigate myriad out-of-pocket expenses associated with battling the disease – and who will have to fight and monitor the disease for a longer period of time.
In addition, when possible, poll findings are compared with 2017 results – in which a wider cross-section of ages was surveyed – to further illustrate how younger people are financially impacted in comparison to other age groups.
Key Findings of The Pink Fund Survey 2018
Young breast cancer survivors (under age 40) pay more out-of-pocket for treatment:
• More than 50% incurred expenses of $5,000 or more.
• 27% incurred expenses of $10,000 or more Young survivors were often sent into debt because of medical expenses.
• 46% depleted their savings accounts.
• 25% defaulted on current debt payments.
• 50% went into actual debt.