A recent report has unveiled the staggering financial burden that cancer patients in Canada endure, with an estimated average of $33,000 in out-of-pocket expenses over their lifetime. This shocking figure highlights a growing crisis that not only affects the well-being of patients but also underscores the inadequacies of the healthcare system in providing comprehensive support for those battling cancer.

One poignant case is that of Natalie Lipschultz, a Burnaby, B.C. resident diagnosed with stage three colorectal cancer in 2019. Since her diagnosis, she has incurred upwards of $20,000 in personal expenses, a cost compounded by her termination from her job during chemotherapy. With no legal recourse, she accepted severance and health benefits instead, exposing a vulnerability many patients face when balancing work and treatment.

The financial toll of cancer treatments often extends beyond medical bills, encompassing significant lost income and other indirect costs. Although Canada’s publicly funded healthcare system provides for hospital treatments like chemotherapy, numerous expenses—such as prescription drugs, travel for appointments, and the opportunity cost of lost work hours—remain borne by patients.

The report, created in partnership with the Canadian Cancer Society, Statistics Canada, and the Public Health Agency of Canada, indicates that these financial hurdles disproportionately impact lower-income individuals and those living in rural areas where access to care is limited. The emotional and psychological strain of managing financial responsibilities alongside medical treatment is evident, with experts pointing to a correlation between financial stress and worse health outcomes.

In an alarming projection, the report anticipates that the overall cost of cancer care in Canada will soar to $37.7 billion by 2024. Of this amount, around 20%—approximately $7.5 billion—will be shouldered by patients themselves. As more Canadians face financial hardships due to cancer, it is projected that out-of-pocket expenses will rise by nearly 20% in the coming decade due to an aging population and improved survival rates.

A study in Current Oncology further underscores the plight of patients with annual incomes under $50,000, many of whom report forgoing critical care due to financial concerns, often spending a staggering 34% of their monthly income on cancer-related expenses.

Lipschultz reflects on her circumstances, acknowledging the role her support network played in alleviating financial pressures during her treatment. After her cancer returned and metastasized to her liver in 2022, she leaned on her mother for support to care for her infant. She states, “Without that support system, I don’t know what we would have done.”

Despite having health insurance through her employer, Lipschultz illustrates the difficult choices that cancer patients face—balancing rising costs of living with the need for ongoing medical care. As pressures mount, some may be forced to prioritize essential living expenses over their health.

Experts advocate for systemic changes, including the need for comprehensive national drug coverage for take-home cancer medications, which would significantly alleviate financial burdens for many. Currently, access to these critical medications varies widely across provinces, with some jurisdictions providing comprehensive coverage while others leave patients shouldering the costs.

As Lipschultz points out, the emotional and financial strains of battling cancer not only affect patients but reverberate throughout their families, increasing the demand for better policy and support frameworks.

Today, at nearly 40 years old and cancer-free, she remains concerned that if cancer returns, she may require drugs costing upwards of $10,000 monthly—an expense that neither her private insurance nor provincial healthcare would cover. She implores healthcare leaders to recognize the long-term financial implications of cancer and the urgent need for systemic reform to support affected individuals and their families.

The findings of this report should serve as a clarion call to policymakers across Canada to confront this hidden financial crisis head-on, ensuring that no one has to choose between their health and financial security.