The Financial Burden of Cancer: Are you willing to share your story?

Over the last 25 years, major advancements in cancer diagnostics and treatment have led to significant improvements in clinical outcomes and survival rates. However, the cost of diagnostic procedures, therapy, including chemotherapy, targeted agents, and immunotherapy, as well as the long-term costs throughout survivorship mean people facing a cancer diagnosis also face substantial financial burden. This is sometimes called financial toxicity.

Mayo Clinic would like to interview 5-6 people who are willing to share their story about the financial burden of cancer. Your experience can help other people going through the expense of cancer treatment.

We are looking for real stories of people who have struggled with the financial burden of:
- mounting paperwork
- looming bills
- confusing financial terminology
- gaps in insurance coverage
- financial fears and insecurity

Do you need to be a Mayo Clinic patient?
No! These stories will support an education program and should not be reflective of any particular clinic or hospital.

How will the stories be used?
Parts of your experience may be used to provide real-life stories in an education program to help newly diagnosed cancer patients.

How can you participate?
- You can participate by phone, in writing or in person. You choose:
- Interview by phone.
- Provide your story in writing via email.
- If you live close to Rochester, Minnesota or Phoenix, Arizona, you might be invited to come to a Mayo Clinic video studio to share your story on camera.
- If you live anywhere else, you might be invited to record an audio version of your story via phone or Zoom.
- Your story may be used in a script to be read by someone else.

If you would like to participate, please post a comment below or private message me at @colleenyoung. Share some of your experience below.

Have you ever been confused by health insurance or billing terminology?
Have you ever wondered, “what’s a deductible, what’s an out-of-pocket maximum?
Have you ever been fearful for your financial security because of cancer treatment costs?