What’s the Financial Cost of Breast Cancer?

Two reports find that a cancer diagnosis leads to financial problems for the majority of patients.

By Elaine K. Howley, Contributor |Feb. 23, 2018, at 10:58 a.m.

No one ever wants to hear the words "you have breast cancer," but the American Cancer Society estimates more than 266,000 Americans are likely to get that news in 2018. Part of what makes breast cancer such a fear-inducing diagnosis is the fact that it affects not just your physical health, but your financial well-being, too.

A recent report published by The Pink Fund, a Michigan-based national non-profit that provides financial assistance to breast cancer patients undergoing treatment, points to just how a big a financial impact having breast cancer can have. The survey found that 64 percent of people with breast cancer end up paying $5,000 or more out of pocket over the course of their treatment in medical-related expenses. These expenses may include copays, transportation to and from the hospital, meals out, parking at the hospital or even accommodations at out-of-town treatment centers – none of which are typically covered by insurance.

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