High cost of cancer care forcing many to compromise their health

According to the results of a survey conducted by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), the exorbitant costs of health care, as related to modern anticancer treatments, are overwhelming patients, forcing them to make tough decisions and potentially compromising their health.

A third of cancer patients or survivors under the age of 65 have found themselves uninsured at some point since diagnosed. Another third currently undergoing cancer treatment "have put off some type of health care in the past year" because of financial concerns. Many from this group have trouble covering health-care related costs such as health insurance premiums, co-pays and prescriptions;

Cancer can devastate a family's finances; one family in three affected by cancer has trouble covering bills for "basic necessities" (i.e. food and housing), while one in five families burn up virtually all their savings paying for cancer treatments.

For more results and conclusions from the ACS CAN poll, go to the American Cancer Society's pressroom.