OBJECTIVES: Advances in cancer treatment have prolonged the lives of patients. However, due to possible out-of-pocket expenses for treatment and/or inability to work, a negative socioeconomic consequence is a reality for many cancer survivors and their families in the US. Our aim is to analyze the literature regarding the socioeconomic impact of cancer on patients and their families. We focus primarily on studies that examined both out-of-pocket expenditures and the effect of productivity loss.

METHODS: We systematically searched three literature abstract databases (Pubmed, Econlit, and Web of Science) using appropriate terminology to find articles relating to the consequential socioeconomic effect of a cancer diagnosis. A bibliometric analysis was conducted using citation rates to quantitatively assess the quality of the publications. Additionally, we examined populations by type of cancer.

RESULTS: After excluding articles that did not meet established criteria, 119 articles were identified. The most common cancer type under study was breast cancer; however, most studies did not address a specific type. Regarding expenses, the majority of the studies considered direct costs, where out-of-pocket costs are extensively evaluated. Less than half of the articles considered productivity losses.

CONCLUSIONS: The topic of socioeconomic costs for cancer patients has been gaining importance in the number of publications since 2010. However, the effect of productivity losses is still poorly understood. Future research should address this gap in order to best inform potential interventions.