title: Financial toxicity: a potential side effect of prostate cancer treatment among Australian men.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to understand the extent, nature and variability of the current economic burden of prostate cancer among Australian men. An online cross-sectional survey was developed that combined pre-existing economic measures and new questions. With few exceptions, the online survey was viable and acceptable to participants. The main outcomes were self-reported out-of-pocket costs of prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment, changes in employment status and household finances. Men were recruited from prostate cancer support groups throughout Australia. Descriptive statistical analyses were undertaken. A total of 289 men responded to the survey during April and June 2013. Our study found that men recently diagnosed (within 16 months of the survey) (n = 65) reported spending a median AU$8000 (interquartile range AU$14 000) for their cancer treatment while 75% of men spent up to AU$17 000 (2012). Twenty per cent of all men found the cost of treating their prostate cancer caused them 'a great deal' of distress. The findings suggest a large variability in medical costs for prostate cancer treatment with 5% of men spending $250 or less in out-of-pocket expenses and some men facing very high costs. On average, respondents in paid employment at diagnosis stated that they had retired 4-5 years earlier than planned.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Applied Health Economics, Menzies Health Institute of Queensland, Griffith University, Logan City, Qld, Australia.
authors.forename: L G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Gordon
authors.affiliation: Centre for Applied Health Economics, Griffith University, Logan City, Qld, Australia.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.affiliation: Centre for Applied Health Economics, Menzies Health Institute of Queensland, Griffith University, Logan City, Qld, Australia.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Mervin
authors.affiliation: Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia.|Menzies Health Institute of Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Southport, Qld, Australia.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lowe
authors.affiliation: Cancer Council New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld, Australia.|Centre for Clinical Research, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld, Australia.|Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Brisbane, Qld, Australia.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Gardiner
authors.affiliation: Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia.|School of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld, Australia.|School of Allied Health, Menzies Health Institute of Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Southport, Qld, Australia.|Cancer Council Queensland, Spring Hill, Qld, Australia.
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Chambers
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004651:Employment / Q000191:economics; D005102:Health Expenditures; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy*; D012179:Retirement / Q000191:economics; D012189:Retrospective Studies
keywords: medical costs; out-of-pocket expenses; prostate cancer