Potential impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on financial toxicity in cancer survivors

Abstract

Background: In the context of COVID-19, cancer survivors represent a particularly vulnerable population that may be "doubly hit" by both costs of cancer treatment and financial strain imposed by the pandemic. Methods: We performed a review of the literature pertaining to cancer, financial toxicity, and economic challenges. Results: Multiple societies have put forth recommendations to modify delivery of cancer care in order to minimize patient exposure to the virus. Cancer survivors, especially patients with head and neck cancer, have been disproportionately affected by rising unemployment levels and economic recessions in the past, both of which are linked to higher cancer mortality. Patients who rely on employer-provided insurance and do not qualify for Medicaid may lose access to life-saving treatments.Conclusions: It is essential to implement interventions and policy changes in order to mitigate the effects of this pandemic but also to ensure this becomes a nonissue during the next one.

Technology-based Health Solutions for Cancer Caregivers to Better Shoulder the Impact of COVID-19: A Systematic Review Protocol

“…NA: This is a protocol study Discussion COVID-19 has uprooted cancer care as we know it [36][37][38][39][40], approximately six months after the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic [41], COVID-19 remains a growing public health emergency that is particularly deadly to vulnerable populations, such as cancer patients [5][6][7]. Furthermore, COVID-19 prevention mechanisms, such as lockdowns, self-isolation, and social distancing measures, as well as COVID-19-induced medical resources rationing, have curbed or cut cancer patients' access to traditional healthcare services [42][43][44][45].…”

“…Furthermore, COVID-19 prevention mechanisms, such as lockdowns, self-isolation, and social distancing measures, as well as COVID-19-induced medical resources rationing, have curbed or cut cancer patients' access to traditional healthcare services [42][43][44][45]. As a result, cancer caregivers often have to step up to address patients' healthcare needs and wants [37,[46][47][48][49], which, in turn, could exert substantial mental and physical stress on informal caregivers, above and beyond COVID-19-related burdens the general public shoulders on a daily basis [17][18][19]. Technology-based health solutions can bypass spatial distancing constraints caused by COVID-19 and have the abilities to address unique challenges cancer patients and their caregivers face amid COVID-19 [50][51][52][53].…”

Systematic rapid living review of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cancer survivors: update to August 27th, 2020

“…Furthermore, available literature notes that the COVID-19 pandemic may disproportionately impact cancer survivors from an economic standpoint [11,13,[15][16]. The pandemic has signi cantly impacted national economies and has resulted in widespread unemployment.…”

“…Survivors that have lost their jobs due to the pandemic may be experiencing greater economic burden than the general population due to costs incurred during treatment and recovery [11,13,16]. Increased nancial hardships may in turn, result of detrimental downstream psychosocial and physical impacts on survivors [15].…”

“…The nal category includes articles that comment on the economic consequences of the pandemic on cancer survivors. Baddour et al [15] notes that the pandemic and its economic consequences may disproportionately impact cancer survivors and their overall health-related quality of life and mortality. Boakye et al [16], Nekhlyudov et al [13], and Koczwara [11] indicate that cancer survivors may be more economically vulnerable and face greater nancial hardship during the COVID-19 pandemic.…”