OBJECTIVES

: Living with cancer creates financial burden on patients and their caregivers. Our study explored direct and indirect costs for patients with ADV/MET GC, GEJC and EAC and their caregivers.

METHODS

: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in France, Germany, the UK, the US, Japan and China (Apr–Oct 2019) in patients with ADV/MET GC/GEJC/EAC , their caregivers and their physicians. Costs were converted into GBP (£) for analysis.

RESULTS

: 995 patients and 536 non-professional caregivers (NPCs) were included. Median patient/NPC age was 66/60 years. At initial diagnosis, 30% and 41% of patients/NPCs were working full- or part-time. Following diagnosis, at data capture, 8% and 37% of patients/NPCs were working full- or part-time.

Data was available for 73% (n=215) of patients working at initial diagnosis, who reported an annual income reduction of £34,792 (SD: £13,740). Of patients with data, still working at data capture (n=63), 41% suffered an income reduction. A mean reduction of 85% in monthly working hours was experienced by the 43 patients who reported working hours at initial diagnosis/data capture.

Patients paid a mean total of £346.20 out of pocket costs/month; the highest cost items were prescription/non-prescription cancer medications (£156.70), housekeeper/cleaner (£32.90) and tests such as blood tests and scans (£29.90). Costs varied by country.

Of NPCs working at the patient’s initial diagnosis, with data (n=220), 9% experienced an average annual income reduction of £20,269 (SD: £19,107). 21% of 177 NPCs working at data capture experienced an income reduction since patient diagnosis. 34% of 525 NPCs provided financial support to patients (mean £358/month). Financial support was most commonly provided for transportation/travel (78%) and medication (59%). 97% of 532 NPCs were not reimbursed for their caregiver role.

CONCLUSIONS

: Whilst patients experienced the greatest direct and indirect financial impact, caregivers also suffered from financial burden due to ADV/MET GC/GEJC/EAC.