Purpose: Young adults (YAs) are at greater risk for cancer-related financial toxicity than other age groups. They are simultaneously dealing with cancer and normative developmental tasks (establishing independence, completing education, and beginning careers) and may go without needed medications, follow-up, and even food or housing because of cancer-related financial toxicity. This study explored the financial resources required for YAs to move forward after cancer treatment. Methods: To identify and describe the financial challenges experienced by YA cancer survivors and the impact on their lives and overall development, we used secondary analysis of essays written by Samfund grant recipients. Directed content analysis allowed identification of salient categories from the essays of 104 YAs aged 17-39 years who received financial assistance between 2012 and 2013. Permission was secured before analysis. Results: To move forward after cancer treatment, YAs state that they require enough financial resources to meet immediate needs, support future goals, facilitate self-care, and enable normative development. Conclusions: Assessing the financial status of YAs with cancer is vital because many YAs lack resources to fund their basic needs and to move forward with independent living after cancer therapy. Interventions to identify and mitigate financial toxicity in YAs have the potential to reduce treatment nonadherence and poor follow-up due to insufficient financial resources in this at-risk population.
Keywords: cost of illness; financial toxicity; quality of life; survivorship.