Less money, more problems: The financial burden of breast cancer on lower income women. D. K. Finley, A. Arozullah, E. A. Heckinger, E. A. Calhoun, M. Wolf, K. A. Fitzner, N. S. Gorby, G. T. Schumock, C. L. Bennett; Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL; VA Chicago, West Side Division/U of Illinois, Chicago, IL; Department of Urology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL; Center for Healthcare Studies, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL; Northwestern University, Chicago, IL; Center for Pharmacoecon. Research, U of IL Chicago, Chicago, IL; VA Chicago / Northwestern University, Chicago, IL Abstract: Background: Prior studies have found that women with cancer are especially likely to suffer financial hardships, as many women in these studies had limited financial resources and/or poor family support systems. The purpose of this study was to provide estimates of the costs incurred by a cohort of insured breast cancer patients who were treated at a comprehensive cancer center and to examine how these costs varied by patient demographics. Methods: Insured women (n=156) with breast cancer were interviewed about cancer related out-of-pocket costs during the prior three months. For patients reporting annual household income (n=138), costs were adjusted for income by dividing cost in dollars/month by household income/month. Results: Out-of-pocket expenditures and lost income costs averaged $1,455 per month, but varied widely. Women reporting an annual income of less than $30,000 spent 98% of their income on out-of-pocket costs related to breast cancer treatment. Although patients with higher incomes had higher total costs, patients with incomes of greater than $60,000 only spent 26% of their income. Younger women were found to have significantly higher direct non-medical costs as a result of childcare expenses. Conclusion: Poorer women with breast cancer devote almost all of their income to cancer care. Affordable programs that provide reimbursement for cancer treatment-related expenses should be developed, particularly for lower income women. Abstract No: 6020 Remember we are NOT Doctors and have NO medical training. This site is like an Encylopedia - there are many pages, many links on many topics. Support our work with any size DONATION - see left side of any page - for how to donate. You can help raise awareness of CAM.