Financial Toxicity: An Examination of an Ongoing Problem in Oncology

Financial toxicity is a term that has gained traction within the oncology field, detailing the financial burden on and distress of cancer patients in regard to their cancer regimen and treatment. Previous research has shown that financial toxicity affects older cancer patients, but more recent research has shown that it can affect anyone of any demographic, particularly newly diagnosed cancer patients. Unfortunately, patients may not fully understand the costs associated with cancer treatment, which can make it difficult for them to effectively contain the costs. This issue has been ongoing and will continue to affect many as cancer treatment evolves with developments in technology and medications and more patients survive. Due to the financial distress, patients can make alterations to their healthcare and treatment, potentially resulting in the decline of patients’ quality of life and possible worsening of cancer outcomes. The present problem of financial toxicity was examined and compiled into a website, where the information was organized into different pages for ease of reading and additional resources were provided. This website is currently ready for use, but I hope to continue improving it with additional information and resources.