In 2020, it was estimated that there would be 1.9 million new cancer cases and 606,500 deaths by cancer. Over the years, Cancer has had adverse effects on the patient and has had drastic mental and financial impacts on families and caregivers.
Impact on the Patient
When you are healthy, you feel alive. You can enjoy the beauty of life. But the minute you recognize that you have become ill. Your mood changes and your energy level decreases as you begin feeling low and doubtful.
When you are healthy, you are working and spending your money. You are living your life and earning as well. But when you become ill, you can no longer work. Given that cancer treatment is costly, this can impact a patient significantly.
Mental Impact
Anxiety is a big problem for cancer patients. Cancer patients continue to think that at any minute, their life could end. This feeling eats them from the inside. Hence, they also become anxiety patients. Our life’s basic principle lies in hope. Everything is not perfect in life. But we hope everything will be perfect shortly. But in cancer patients, the first thing that breaks them is the vanished hope of upcoming life. According to a survey in the US in 2019, 26.3% of cancer patients were also taking antidepressants to fight depression.
Financial Impact
Cancer makes your life miserable. It makes your health extremely critical. Despite facing these issues, many cancer patients must support themselves financially also. The economic impacts of cancer are cruel. In a survey in 2017, it was found that females who survived breast cancer spent 20,000 US dollars or more on cancer treatment.
Impact on Caregivers and Family Members
Family, friends, and caregivers are also impacted but the patient’s cancer journey. As a result, they become hopeless and suffer because they feel helpless when they see their loved ones enduring so much pain. However, they stand by, ready to do everything to lift the spirits of their loved ones along their journey of healing. In many instances, they too band together to fund medical treatment and as a result, they too can be financially impacted.
