Patients With Colorectal Cancer Seek More Say in Treatment, Face Financial Barriers

The survey, involving 344 patients, highlighted barriers to treatment, including financial constraints, mental health issues, transportation challenges, and work-caregiving responsibilities, says Kim Newcomer, director of volunteers, Colorectal Cancer Alliance.

This transcript was lightly edited and captions are AI-generated.

Transcript

Can you provide a brief background of what this study was investigating and why?

Yes, this study was conducted with Takeda, in partnership with patient advocacy groups and the Harris Poll, to better understand the real-life experiences of people living with metastatic colorectal cancer. Our key focus was on health equity, decision treatment making, quality of life, and financial health. We are extremely grateful for Takeda for bringing patient advocacy groups together to really work together to find solutions to some of these issues, and by bringing some insights to light, we hope to create some resources and make meaningful change around some of the unmet needs.

Of course, we're going to use this study’s findings to help shape how new resources and education for both patients and health care providers can ensure patients’ better support [and] greater access to health care, ultimately improving outcomes for patients living with metastatic colorectal cancer.

Can you discuss some of the nonmedical factors and their implications on a patient being able to or not being able to receive treatment?

Our study highlights nonmedical factors that affect treatment access for many colorectal cancer patients, especially metastatic patients. Some of those barriers do include financial constraints. We know the cost of treatment, travel, [and] loss of income can really make it difficult for patients to continue therapy. Some patients really have to choose between affording treatments or covering basic necessities. [They] also [have] mental health struggles. A cancer diagnosis is overwhelming and stressful, causes anxiety, depression, [and] it can really reduce the patient's ability to engage in their own care.

Also [there are] transportation challenges. Not having reliable transportation can lead to missed appointments or treatment delays, especially for rural patients. We talk about work and caregiving responsibilities. A lot of people are still working and caring for their families. They struggle to balance that work/caregiving treatment aspect, leading to some delays or actually ultimately foregoing treatment altogether. And we do know that these interruptions can lead to treatment interruptions, worse outcomes, [and] increased mortality rates. Addressing them requires financial assistance programs, better mental health support, and policies that provide flexibility in the workplace and flexibility for patients going under treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer.