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About 1 of 5 cancer survivors—especially Latinos and black survivors—reported having problems paying bills long after the end of treatment, according to a new study, HealthDay reports.
The study, which examined 1,514 survivors’ responses to an American Cancer Society survey, also found that many survivors have unresolved physical and mental health issues long after treatment.
One-third of survivors reported physical problems.
Many respondents also “expressed anxiety about the possible return of their cancer” and feel they had lost “personal control.”
“Overall, we found that cancer survivors are often caught off guard by the lingering problems they experience after cancer treatment,” said Mary Ann Burg, study author and social work professor at the University of Central Florida in Orlando. “In the wake of cancer, many survivors feel they have lost a sense of personal control, have reduced quality of life, and are frustrated that these problems are not sufficiently addressed within the medical care system.”
Burg said the findings could help clinicians and other experts develop interventions that are tailored to the specific types of problems and concerns that cancer survivors may experience.
“Improvements are needed concerning public awareness of cancer survivors’ problems, honest professional communication about the side effects of cancer, and the coordination of medical care resources to help survivors and their families cope with their lingering challenges,” Burg said in a news release.
By The Numbers
25.1
percent
of Latinos remain without health insurance coverage
