Unemployment after cancer – a hidden driver of financial toxicity

While financial toxicity due to the high costs of cancer treatment is increasingly recognised as a significant challenge for cancer patients and survivors, the impact of reduced work participation as a major driver of financial toxicity is only just coming to light. Unemployment and reduced employment after a cancer diagnosis is associated with reduced financial reserves, impaired quality of life, and possibly reduced survival. Loss of work after cancer disproportionally impacts on those already more vulnerable, such as low income employees and the very young, with impact persisting for some for many years. Research needs to focus on quantifying and predicting the impact of reduced work participation on quality and quantity of survival, and development of interventions to assist with meaningful work participation for cancer survivors.