The financial impact of cancer in Canadian young adults

Mahon, Kaitlyn (2020) The financial impact of cancer in Canadian young adults. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

[English] PDF - Accepted Version Available under License - The author retains copyright ownership and moral rights in this thesis. Neither the thesis nor substantial extracts from it may be printed or otherwise reproduced without the author's permission. Download (688kB)

Abstract

Cancer may have greater financial consequences for young adults (YAs), defined as those between 15 to 39, than older adults because of developmental stage. YA cancer survivors (N = 575) reported on out-of-pocket cancer costs and missed work. They were compared to age, sex, and education-matched peers without cancer on income, debts and assets using data from the 2014 Canadian Financial Capability Survey and Canadian Community Health Survey. Almost 60% of YA survivors spent at least $100 per month on out-of-pocket cancer-related expenses, and 49% missed at least one year of work. Groups did not differ in personal or household income. Compared to non-cancer peers in both groups, YA survivors were more likely to have outstanding credit card and line of credit balances. Regardless of current age or time since diagnosis, YA survivors were also more likely to not own assets while their non-cancer peers were more likely to be home owners. YAs face long-term financial impact due to cancer in assets and debts, but not in income.

Actions (login required)

View Item