FINANCIAL TOXICITY AMONG WOMEN WITH BREAST CANCER IN GREECE: RESULTS FROM A CROSS- SECTIONAL STUDY
Author(s)
VASILIKI TSIANTOU, PhD1, Eleftheria Karampli, MSc, PhD2, Panagiota Naoum, MSc,PhD2, CHRISTIANA MITSI, MSc3, FROSSO TZINTZIROPOULOU, MSc3, Elpida Pavi, PhD2, ILIAS-IOANNIS KYRIOPOULOS, PhD4, Kostas Athanasakis, PhD2.
1General Hospital of Trikala, Trikala, Greece, 2Department of Public Health Policy, School of Public Health, University of West Attica, ATHENS, Greece, 3Hellenic Association of Women with Breast Cancer “Alma Zois”, ATHENS, Greece, 4London School of Economics, London, United Kingdom.
1General Hospital of Trikala, Trikala, Greece, 2Department of Public Health Policy, School of Public Health, University of West Attica, ATHENS, Greece, 3Hellenic Association of Women with Breast Cancer “Alma Zois”, ATHENS, Greece, 4London School of Economics, London, United Kingdom.
OBJECTIVES: Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in Greece. The aim was to examine the phenomenon of financial toxicity during cancer treatment on breast cancer patients from an economic and a psychological perspective.
METHODS: A cross-sectional, online survey took place in April 2024. Eligible population was women with early or locally advanced breast cancer, diagnosed and treated in Greece between 2019 and 2023, recruited through the Hellenic Association of Women with Breast Cancer "Alma Zois".
RESULTS: 552 women participated and the mean age was 50 years (SD 8.7), whereas 65.9% held only social insurance. 68.5% paid part or all of their costs OOP (mean €4,673; median €3,000), covered mainly through household income (96.6%), savings (59.3%), and parents’ contributions (34.9%), while 21.7% had to borrow money or to liquidate private assets. Participants also faced indirect costs during their treatment for housekeeping (37.1%), childcare needs (8.7%) and accommodation (9.8%). 35.6% of women took a temporarily unpaid leave from work and 9.1% resigned. Although the majority was managing well financially (52.3%) at the time of their diagnosis, a significant proportion of the sample admit that their financial situation worsened (31%) during the treatment and felt financial distress (17.5%), while 23.4% of them worried about their future financial situation because of the disease. Their relatives also faced economic consequences since they had to stop working temporarily or even resign (25.4%) and move from their permanent residence (26.4%) in order to help the patient during her treatment.
CONCLUSIONS: Adverse financial effects of cancer treatment are significant, increasing financial distress and anxiety. Cancer poses a financial threat to the patient’s family and close relatives as well, because patients often receive economic support from relatives in order to cover treatment-related expenses. Implementation of multisectoral policies and supporting mechanisms for patients and their caregivers can improve financial protection
METHODS: A cross-sectional, online survey took place in April 2024. Eligible population was women with early or locally advanced breast cancer, diagnosed and treated in Greece between 2019 and 2023, recruited through the Hellenic Association of Women with Breast Cancer "Alma Zois".
RESULTS: 552 women participated and the mean age was 50 years (SD 8.7), whereas 65.9% held only social insurance. 68.5% paid part or all of their costs OOP (mean €4,673; median €3,000), covered mainly through household income (96.6%), savings (59.3%), and parents’ contributions (34.9%), while 21.7% had to borrow money or to liquidate private assets. Participants also faced indirect costs during their treatment for housekeeping (37.1%), childcare needs (8.7%) and accommodation (9.8%). 35.6% of women took a temporarily unpaid leave from work and 9.1% resigned. Although the majority was managing well financially (52.3%) at the time of their diagnosis, a significant proportion of the sample admit that their financial situation worsened (31%) during the treatment and felt financial distress (17.5%), while 23.4% of them worried about their future financial situation because of the disease. Their relatives also faced economic consequences since they had to stop working temporarily or even resign (25.4%) and move from their permanent residence (26.4%) in order to help the patient during her treatment.
CONCLUSIONS: Adverse financial effects of cancer treatment are significant, increasing financial distress and anxiety. Cancer poses a financial threat to the patient’s family and close relatives as well, because patients often receive economic support from relatives in order to cover treatment-related expenses. Implementation of multisectoral policies and supporting mechanisms for patients and their caregivers can improve financial protection
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-11, ISPOR Europe 2026, Vienna, Austria
Value in Health, Volume 29, Issue 12S
Code
HPR69
Topic
Economic Evaluation, Health Policy & Regulatory
Topic Subcategory
Health Disparities & Equity
Disease
Oncology