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Crowdfunding for Cancer Treatments Can Negatively Impact Mental Health, Study Finds

A cancer diagnosis can mean a huge hit to your pocketbook. In 2020, an estimated $208.9 billion were spent on cancer care in the United States alone. Many of these patients turned to crowdfunding websites like GoFundMe to help cover costs. While these websites can help with bills, a new study finds the process has many drawbacks, as well.

Researchers from the University of Michigan surveyed 46 young adults who had survived cancer and turned to this type of fundraising to pay bills. The findings, published in the Journal of Cancer Survivorship, show that many experienced shame over asking for money and discomfort with sharing personal information. However, they had to balance these feelings with the needed financial relief.

PHOTO: ADOBE STOCK / SUPACHAI

Dr. Lauren Ghazal, first author and postdoctoral nursing student at the U of M Rogel Cancer Center, says, “Young adults are at that point in life where they are beginning to achieve financial independence and finding career employment. When a cancer diagnosis hits, it can really impact that young person’s financial wellbeing.”

These financial difficulties can come from the care itself or from costs incurred if a patient is unable to work during treatment. To help cover such costs, the average crowdfunding goal for those surveyed was just under $3,500. About half said they did not manage to raise enough to meet their goal, which was especially true for people from a lower-income background. Those from wealthier backgrounds were more apt to raise enough money.

While the study participants said the financial help was a lifesaver and that they may not have been able to afford treatment or basic necessities without it, these feelings came with other drawbacks. Some felt the process was humiliating, they were unsure why it was necessary, and they felt uncomfortable with the prospect of sharing enough detail to explain why they were in need of help.

PHOTO: ADOBE STOCK / LIGHTFIELD STUDIOS

Dr. Ghazal says, “Asking for help is difficult. It’s even harder for a young adult who just got diagnosed with a serious illness. This is not something a young adult cancer patient does lightly. And it’s not something that necessarily should be expected – that they immediately have to disclose their whole history on a social media site to pay their bills.”

While the survey focused on younger cancer patients, the researchers say these feelings may extend to patients of different ages or those dealing with other serious illnesses. The authors also feel that crowdfunding may not be getting to the root of the problem.

Dr. Ghazal explains, “Crowdfunding is an individual solution. We need to look at broader interventions to reduce financial toxicity and increase social support for young adult cancer survivors.”

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In the meantime, contributions to crowdfunding efforts continue to be high, with about 1 in 5 Americans saying they’ve donated to one. Through GoFundMe alone, more than $650 million are raised for medical bills annually.

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