Informal and formal financial assistance to rural women during cancer treatment

Abstract

Introduction: Rural women with cancer are at heightened risk of financial toxicity. Financial assistance is an important, yet underexamined, aspect of how patients with cancer cope with financial toxicity. This study aims to examine the types of financial assistance rural women with cancer received during cancer treatment and how they described the impact of that assistance. Material and methods: Using data from interviews with 36 rural women with cancer histories, this study used a qualitative descriptive design to explore the types of financial assistance participants received during cancer treatment. Results: Participants described two forms of financial assistance they received: informal and formal financial assistance. Informal financial assistance was provided by social networks and local communities and included cash support, community fundraisers, and in-kind donations. Formal financial assistance was provided by healthcare systems and charitable organizations and included resource navigation and cash grants. Both forms of financial assistance were helpful for many patients with cancer; however, not all participants who needed financial assistance received it. Discussion: Informal and formal financial assistance are significant forms of support for some rural women undergoing cancer treatment. However, such support is unequally distributed and may exacerbate existing inequalities. Financial assistance is not an adequate substitute for public policy that reduces the economic toll of cancer treatment on patients.

Keywords

• Cancer
• Financial toxicity
• Rural
• Informal financial assistance
• Social networks
• Social support