Cancer patients shouldering an average of $33K in costs in Canada: report

The report estimates a cancer patient will face almost $33,000 on average in out-of-pocket cancer-related costs in their lifetime, including loss of income.

Since Natalie Lipschultz was diagnosed with stage three colorectal cancer in 2019, she estimates the illness has cost her more than $20,000 in out-of-pocket expenses.

Several months after her diagnosis, the Burnaby, B.C., resident was terminated from her job at an insurance company without cause while undergoing chemotherapy in January 2020. She agreed not to pursue legal action in exchange for her health benefits and severance.

Lipschultz, who was 34 at the time, had tried to balance work and treatment, answering emails on her laptop during chemotherapy.

Looking back, she wishes she had focused more on her body.

“The health care system failed me, my work at the time failed me, and I’m gonna get a little emotional, but I think I failed myself a little bit too,” she says.

Her story embodies the findings of a Canadian Cancer Society report, published Monday in partnership with Statistics Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada with analysis by Canadian Partnership Against Cancer, on the economic cost of cancer – for the health-care system, but also for the patient.

The report estimates a cancer patient will face almost $33,000 on average in out-of-pocket cancer-related costs in their lifetime, including loss of income.

While Canada’s publicly funded health-care system covers hospital costs including chemotherapy and radiation, patients still pay for some prescription drugs and travel expenses. There is also the cost of lost time going to appointments, and lost income during treatment and recovery.