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5mo ago

Cancer Patients in Canada Face $33,000 in Lifetime Costs, Report Reveals

A new study highlights the financial burden of cancer care on patients and caregivers, with costs expected to rise significantly over the next decade.

Though she's now cancer-free, Sandra Hojlo and her husband Sig Trautwein say retirement would look a lot different if not for medical insurance and a paid off house. A Canadian Cancer Society report details the financial cost of cancer on patients and their caregivers.
Natalie Lipschultz, 39, poses for a photograph in Burnaby, B.C., Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024. When factoring in her out-of-pocket expenses, lost wages and time costs, Lipschultz estimates her cancer diagnosis has cost her around $20,000 over the last 6 years. She now speaks out as an advocate focused on the early onset community.
Vanessa Percoco poses for a portrait in her home in Saint-Eustache on Dec. 07, 2024. Percoco, a 33-year-old colorectal cancer survivor, estimates she spent thousands of dollars on medications, ostomy supplies and other cancer care expenses that weren’t publicly covered as part of her plan. (07/12/2024) (Andrej Ivanov/The Globe and Mail)

Overview

  • A Canadian Cancer Society report finds cancer patients face an average of $33,000 in out-of-pocket expenses over their lifetime, including medical costs and lost income.
  • While public healthcare covers most hospital treatments, patients often pay for prescription drugs, travel, and other related expenses, disproportionately impacting low-income and rural individuals.
  • The report projects overall cancer-related costs in Canada to reach $37.7 billion in 2024, with $7.5 billion borne by patients and caregivers.
  • Out-of-pocket costs are expected to increase by nearly 20% over the next decade due to population growth, aging, and improved cancer survival rates.
  • Advocates call for expanded drug coverage and consistent financial support programs across provinces to reduce disparities in access to care.