In the US, cancer patients face double the risk of bankruptcy

"The discovery of a new drug innovative against tumors is not the desired end of the story, but it's just the beginning". These are the words of the American oncologist Dawn L.Hershman from the American Society of Clinical Conference oncology (Asco), and refer to the phenomenon of toxicity financial especially in breast cancer, namely the weight of the economic impact of the disease on the lives of patients. A phenomenon that has been at the center of many Asco sessions. In the US this is in fact becoming an emergency: people who have overcome cancer have double the risk of declare bankruptcy while 62% of these patients have contracted debts to be able to secure treatment. But also in Italy the data is worrying: one patient in 4 declares heavy economic damage and the peak of costs is recorded in the South linked to the disease with over 4 thousand euros per year. Hershman was among the first, already 10 years ago, to start to study the phenomenon of financial toxicity related to breast cancer and for her studies she has today received the prestigious Asco 'David Karofsky' award, holding a master lecture. "The great pharmacological discoveries in the field of oncology are just the beginning of the story - he said in front of an audience of hundreds of specialists gathered at Chicago - because if patients, as often happens today, do not I am then able to have that treatment for weight as well economic that cancer treatments entail, then the success will be relative". There are many factors that weigh economically and which often lead to the abandonment of care: from direct costs such as those needed for various medical examinations or for hospitalization, indirect costs such as transportation, food and accommodation in case of need to move to more central locations far away, the care of children to be entrusted to others. And again: the loss of work in some cases or the need to have to use the savings. According to the data communicated to Asco, in addition 70% of US cancer patients have had serious experiences of financial toxicity. And among those forced to declare bankruptcy, according to a survey presented to the congress, there is also an increase in the mortality rate. A phenomenon in front of which experts ask to intervene. Even in Italy, recent data from a survey Andos-Crea show a worrying reality: 32.1% of the breast cancer patients reduced their expenses for activities recreational (holidays, restaurants or shows) and 10.3% even those for essential goods, such as food; 20.7% is was forced to cut into savings sources (Tfr, investments, funds) precisely to meet health costs resulting from the neoplasia. And there are strong concerns for the future: almost 30% fear becoming unemployed due to of the disease and 42.9% of under 40s are affected in the decision to have children.