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.
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..