The experience of financial stress among emerging adult cancer survivors

Abstract

Objective: The experience of cancer-related financial stress was examined within the developmental context of emerging adulthood.

Methodological approach: This study is a secondary analysis of data drawn from two samples of testicular or hematologic cancer survivors. In-depth interviews from 52 emerging adult (EA) cancer survivors, ages 18–29, were coded by combining thematic analysis with an abductive approach.

Findings: Emergent themes included some common to most age groups, including worries about medical costs and availability of health insurance, as well as specific age-related concerns, such as fertility preservation. Financial stress appeared to interrupt developmental tasks of emerging adulthood, including completing an education, establishing independence, and managing relationships. Surprisingly, financial stress was experienced as a benefit for some participants.

Conclusion: Financial stress affects EA cancer survivors in unique ways. To provide support, health professionals should consider survivors’ developmental life stage to understand their financial stress, and ultimately, to improve quality of life.

Keywords:

• Cancer survivors
• cost of illness
• financial hardship
• stress
• young adult
• quality of life

Compliance with ethical standards

Ethical approval

All procedures performed involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional research committee.

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Ian Pervil, PhD, Amanda Marin-Chollom, PhD, Lisa Rubin, PhD, Michael W. Schuster, MD, Sylvia Wood, DNP, and Stupid Cancer for their assistance with the study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors..

Additional information

Funding

The study of young adults with hematologic cancer was supported by a grant from the Anthony Marchionne Foundation for the Scientific Study of Human Relations and Psychological Processes. The study of young adults with testicular cancer was conducted with support from the Livestrong Foundation and the National Institutes of Health [20094662; 1SC1CA187494]