PURPOSE: We investigated the association between race and FT among previous patients with cancer. Studies show that patients with cancer experience financial toxicity (FT) because of their cancer treatment. METHODS: Data on individuals with a cancer history were collected in this cross-sectional study during 2012, 2014, and 2017, from the US Health Information National Trends Survey. This survey is conducted by mail with monetary compensation as an incentive. We specifically assessed responses to two questions: Has cancer hurt you financially? Have you been denied health insurance because of cancer? Multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to assess the associations between these questions and race. RESULTS: Of 10,592 individuals participating, 1,328 men and women (12.5%) with a cancer history were assessed. Compared with Blacks, Whites were found to have a higher rate of insurance (95.4% v 90.0%), were more likely to receive cancer treatment (93.9% v 85%), and had a higher rate of surgical treatment than Blacks (77% v 60%), Hispanics (55%), and others (77%, 60%, 55%, and 74.2%, respectively, P < .001). On multivariable analysis, Blacks were more than five times as likely to be denied insurance (odds ratio, 5.003; 95% CI, 2.451 to 10.213; P < .001) and more than twice as likely to report being hurt financially because of cancer (odds ratio, 2.448; 95% CI, 1.520 to 3.941; P < .001) than Whites. Of all cancer groups analyzed (genitourinary, gynecologic, gastrointestinal, and breast), genitourinary malignancies were the only group in which the rate of reporting being hurt financially varied in a statistically significant manner (Whites 36.7%, Hispanics 62.5%, and Blacks 59.3%, P = .004). CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that race is significantly associated with FT because of cancer. Awareness of racial inequality with regards to FT should be raised among health care workers.

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1525 Background: Studies show that cancer patients and survivors are likely to endure financial toxicity long after being diagnosed. Methods: To examine the influence of race on financial toxicity among individuals with a history of cancer, a US based cross sectional study was conducted using data on 1,328 cancer patients collected from the Health Information National Trends Survey. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to analyze the relationship between race and financial toxicity, adjusting for known confounders. Results: Blacks, Hispanics and other races were shown to have a lower rate of insurance compared to Whites. Whites were also more likely to receive cancer treatment than other races (6.1% received no treatment vs 15.0% of Blacks, 17.8% of Hispanics, and 9.7% of other races, p<0.001). Considerably more Whites underwent surgical treatment of their cancer (77%) vs. 60% of Blacks, 55% of Hispanics and 74.2% of other races, p<0.001. Blacks were found to be over 5 times more likely to be denied insurance (OR 5.003, 95% CI 2.451-10.213, p<0.001) and more than twice as likely to be hurt financially than Whites (OR 2.448, 95% CI 1.520-3.941, p<0.001). Other racial minorities were also more than twice as likely to be hurt financially than Whites (OR 2.421, 95% CI 1.248-4.698, p=0.009) (Table). Conclusions: These data suggest that race is significantly associated with increased rates of being hurt financially and being denied insurance due to cancer. Awareness of race inequality should be raised so that equal cancer treatment can be provided, irrespective of race, gender or socioeconomic status.[Table: see text]

Traditional cancer treatments have been associated with substantial morbidity for patients. Focused ultrasound offers a novel modality for the treatment of various forms of cancer which may offer effective oncological control and low morbidity. We performed a review of PubMed articles assessing the current applications of focused ultrasound in the treatment of genitourinary cancers, including prostate, kidney, bladder, penile, and testicular cancer. Current research indicates that high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) focal therapy offers effective short-term oncologic control of localized prostate and kidney cancer with lower associated morbidity than radical surgery. In addition, studies in mice have demonstrated that focused ultrasound treatment increases the accuracy of chemotherapeutic drug delivery, the efficacy of drug uptake, and cytotoxic effects within targeted cancer cells. Ultrasound-based therapy shows promise for the treatment of genitourinary cancers. Further research should continue to investigate focused ultrasound as an alternative cancer treatment option or as a complement to increase the efficacy of conventional treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy.