Financial Distress and its Associated Burden in Couples Coping with an Incurable Cancer

• Published in: Cancer epidemiology, biomarkers & prevention biomarkers & prevention, 2020-03, Vol.29 (3), p.696-696
• Main Authors: Milbury, K, Lopez, G, Contreras, J, Weather, S-P, Bruera, E
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1055-9965; 1538-7755
• DOI: 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-20-0072

Although financial toxicity has been linked to poor disease outcomes in cancer patients, the associations between subjective financial distress (FD) and symptom burden and quality of life (QOL) are rarely examined from a patient-partner dyadic perspective. Thus, this cross-sectional study seeks to examine dyadic associations in couples coping with an incurable cancer. Method: Patients undergoing systemic and/or radiotherapy for advanced lung cancer (n = 50) or high grade glioma (n = 50) and their spouses/romantic partners completed measures of psychological distress (BSI-18), symptom severity including FD (ESAS, 0–10 scale), QOL (PROMIS-10), relationship wellbeing (SRI), and avoidance (AAQ-2). Results: Patients were mainly female (60%), and patients and partners were all in a heterosexual relationship (mean length: 30.12 ± 15.1 yrs), mainly non-Hispanic White (80%), married to each other (93%) and well educated with a mean age of 57.9 years (range: 28.5–79.0 years). FD was interrelated in couples (ICC = 0.53, P