A cancer diagnosis can also be a 'financial double-whammy.' Here's what advocates want to change

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A quarter of a million Canadians are diagnosed with cancer every year.

When that happens, says Stephen Piazza, director of advocacy for the Canadian Cancer Society, people need to focus on their treatment plan and telling family members — not budgeting for medical expenses.

"The last thing you need is to then think about how do I balance my chequebook this month?" said Piazza.

But a survey conducted for the society suggested about one in five cancer patients found it difficult to pay household expenses, and 40 per cent saw their retirement savings suffer.

People accessing cancer care may struggle to afford everyday housing or rent increases on top of new costs related to treatment.

While many of the costs associated with treatment are covered by provincial health plans or private insurance, many aren't.

Costs include devices, physiotherapy, and travel to clinics paid for by Canadians who are living with cancer, are in remission, or are no longer being actively treated. The cancer society's December 2024 report estimated that adds up to nearly $33,000 on average over a patient's lifetime.

Along with lost income due to time off work, it's a "double-whammy," say experts.

That's why this federal election, the Canadian Cancer Society is calling for tax changes and other solutions to boost affordability.

In general, Piazza said Canadians are fortunate to be able to access high quality cancer care.

But cost is a barrier that leaves a huge psychological impact on people, he said, when cancer care should be truly universal.

In Canada's western provinces and northern territories, take-home cancer drugs and those administered in the hospital are both covered, but that's not the case in Ontario and the Atlantic provinces for oral cancer medication, the society said. In Quebec, anyone without private insurance pays a public insurance premium after which take-home cancer medications are fully covered.

The society said the next federal government can make cancer care more affordable in several ways: