Produced by AusDoc on behalf of COSA

A COSA working group taking the lead to address the financial toxicity of cancer hosted a breakfast symposium on Friday to preview an evidence-based draft roadmap they have been working on since 2020. People at the well-attended breakfast were given an opportunity to provide input on the roadmap before it is presented to the COSA Council early next year.

The working group has 17 members and is chaired by Professor Raymond Chan and Megan Varlow.
They have defined toxicity as: “The negative patient-level impact of the cost of cancer. It is the combined impact of direct out-of-pocket costs and indirect costs and the changing financial circumstances of an individual and their household due to cancer, its diagnosis, treatment, survivorship and palliation, causing both physical and psychological harms, affecting decisions which can lead to suboptimal cancer outcomes.”

“Financial toxicity is common,” said working group member Professor Louisa Gordon. “Financial distress can be higher than for the cancer itself.” Cancer was more expensive than in the past and would become more expensive in future, she said. In addition to the cost of tests and treatment, the burden extended to patients and their carers losing income.