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Economic hardship of minority and non‐minority cancer survivors 1 year after diagnosis: Another long‐term effect of cancer?
Author(s) -
Pisu Maria,
Kenzik Kelly M.,
Oster Robert A.,
Drentea Patricia,
Ashing Kimlin T.,
Fouad Mona,
Martin Michelle Y.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/cncr.29206
Subject(s) - medicine , cancer , ethnic group , demography , marital status , gerontology , socioeconomic status , colorectal cancer , environmental health , population , sociology , anthropology
BACKGROUND Current literature suggests that racial/ethnic minority survivors may be more likely than whites to experience economic hardship after a cancer diagnosis; however, little is known about such hardship. METHODS Patients with lung cancer (LC) and colorectal cancer (CRC) participating in the Cancer Care Outcomes Research and Surveillance (CanCORS) Consortium were surveyed approximately 4 months (baseline) and 12 months (follow‐up) after diagnosis. Economic hardship at follow‐up was present if participants 1) indicated difficulty living on household income; and/or 2) for the following 2 months, anticipated experiencing hardships (inadequate housing, food, or medical attention) or reducing living standards to the bare necessities of life. The authors tested whether African Americans (AAs) and Hispanics were more likely than whites to experience economic hardship controlling for sex, age, education, marital status, cancer stage, treatment, and economic status at baseline (income, prescription drug coverage). RESULTS Of 3432 survivors (39.7% with LC, 60.3% with CRC), 14% were AA, 7% were Hispanic, and 79% were white. AAs and Hispanics had lower education and income than whites. Approximately 68% of AAs, 58% of Hispanics, and 44.5% of whites reported economic hardship. In LC survivors, the Hispanic‐white disparity was not significant in unadjusted or adjusted analyses, and the AA‐white disparity was explained by baseline economic status. In CRC survivors, the Hispanic‐white disparity was explained by baseline economic status, and the AA‐white disparity was not explained by the variables that were included in the model. CONCLUSIONS Economic hardship was evident in almost 1 in 2 cancer survivors 1 year after diagnosis, especially AAs. Research should evaluate and address risk factors and their impact on survival and survivorship outcomes. Cancer 2015;121:1257–1264. © 2015 American Cancer Society .