How Caregivers Can Help Cancer Survivors with Work and Financial Concerns

Cancer survivors may struggle to pay for medical care and are more likely to declare bankruptcy than people without a cancer history. They also face work-related concerns because of their cancer experience. Although many survivors return to work, about one-third cannot work at all or have less ability to work due to late and long-term effects of cancer, including mental and physical health problems.

What Can Caregivers Do?

Be aware of the short- and long-term financial burden of surviving cancer, and learn about—

• Changes in health care in the United States and options for affordable health insurance.
• Ways the survivor’s employer may be able to help, like a non-traditional work schedule, employee assistance programs, and options for employees to donate unused paid time off to sick coworkers.
• The Family and Medical Leave Act and short-term disability leave.