Background/Purpose
Cancer survivors can be left with physical and emotional challenges following treatment which may have profound effects on their daily living. Obtaining assistance for these issues can be problematic for various reasons, including financial, and leave individuals with unmet needs. This study sought to understand relationships among adult cancer survivors’ income and experiences finding help for unmet needs concerns following completion of treatment.
Sample and setting
A Canada-wide survey explored experiences of cancer survivors 1-3 years after treatment.
Procedures
The questionnaires were distributed to a randomly selected sample of more than 40.000 survivors through tne provincial cancer registries. A trend analysis describes associations among income and physical, emotional, and practical concerns and help-seeking, for cancer survivors between 18 and 64 years of age.
Results
Overall survey response rate was 33% (N = 12,929) of these, 5283 (xx%) were between 18 and 64 years. of those, 4264 (80.7%) indicated their annual income. Breast (34.4%), Prostate (14%), and colorectal (15%) accounted for more than half of the respondents. Over 90% experienced physical changes, 80% experienced emotional changes, and 51% experienced practical changes following treatment. Up to half of these individuals indicated major concerns about the changes they experienced. Significant trends across income categories were evident for 9/9 physical symptoms, 3/6 emotional concerns, and 4/5 practical concerns. Survivors with low annual household income (<CA$25,000) reported higher levels of concern about multiple changes and greater difficulties finding help than survivors with higher incomes.
Conclusion/clinical implications
Cancer survivors can experience various unmet needs following treatment and difficulty finding help. Those with lower income were most severely affected. Early assessment of financial risk among older survivors is recommended.