Social consequences of cancer Many cancer patients live in poverty

Cancer often causes poverty

It is bad enough to be affected by cancer. However, a recent study shows that there are often serious social consequences. For many sufferers, the financial situation worsens considerably in the course of the disease. This is not only due to the reduced efficiency of many sufferers. More than half of the patients surveyed did not know which services they are legally entitled to and how they can benefit from them.

In the project "Cancer and Poverty", researchers from the Hamburger Fern-Hochschule (HFH) in cooperation with the AOK Nordost and the Institute for Applied Research Berlin investigated the socio-economic consequences of cancer. The team finds that the economic situation of cancer patients in the years after the diagnosis on average deteriorates significantly. One third of respondents were out of work three years after the cancer diagnosis, and those returning to work deteriorated the average salary.

As a recent study reveals, cancer patients are often affected by long-term financial problems due to their illness. (Image: Syda Productions / fotolia.com)

Cancer and poverty go hand in hand

"With the project, we were able to show that the economic situation in the years following the illness is significantly more difficult," summarizes study leader Professor Dr. med. Stefan Dietsche the study results in a press release. In addition, it has been shown that counseling patients is in many cases not sufficient and they do not know what benefits they are entitled to.

Partly serious cuts

As Professor Dietsche reports, social benefits were perceived as insufficient by a majority of the 300 respondents. For the most part, the financial restrictions were so severe that not only did those affected have significantly less money for leisure, entertainment or stimulants, but basic needs such as nutrition, clothing or financial security were severely restricted.

Decreased income after a cancer

In addition to the surveys, data from 3,000 cancer patients from the AOK Northeast were evaluated. All were of working age. It showed that about one third of the disease remained unemployed. Although two-thirds returned to work, but received lower average wages than before the disease. "As the main reason for the changed employment situation, those affected reported a decline in performance," say the researchers.

Great ignorance about social benefits

Furthermore, the study revealed that there is a great deal of ignorance about what social benefits people are entitled to and how they can benefit from them. 57 percent of the participants felt inadequately informed about the topic of social benefits. "This is a point that needs to get better - after all, it's about existential questions," remarks Professor Dietsche.

Further investigations

In a follow-up project, the team led by Professor Dietsche wants to investigate the social consequences of cancer even more deeply. "However, we now want to look more closely at the life situation of those affected and take their views into account," says the expert. (Vb)