Financial Toxicity Working Group

  • GROUP Survivorship
  • PROJECT SPAN 2023
  • DATE 01/01/2023

Background

Following the success of a session on Financial Toxicity at the 2020 COSA ASM, we formed a Working Group to address financial toxicity in Australia. Working Group members represent a broad range of expertise from around Australia, including consumers.

Working Group Activities

Initial efforts have focused on understanding the problem – defining financial toxicity and scoping current activities and services. Work is now directed towards seeking solutions and developing innovations to address financial toxicity associated with cancer and its treatment.

Find out more about the Working Group's activities below.

 

Raymond Chan 
Financial Toxicity Working Group Co-Chair

        

    

Megan Varlow 
Financial Toxicity Working Group Co-Chair

COSA convened a national Think Tank on Financial Toxicity in Cancer Care in May 2023, with the aim of identifying innovative solutions to address financial toxicity associated with cancer and its treatment. The Financial Toxicity Working Group is now developing a roadmap to draw out the key elements from the report that provide traction for further action. The roadmap will identify the leadership activities, policy changes and research activities required, and how to engage with health services and health systems to effect change. Solutions and future efforts will require a whole-of-sector approach and we will continue our engagement with key stakeholders to take this work forward.

COSA Financial Toxicity in Cancer Care Think Tank Report - 26 May 2023

COSA Council endorsed this definition of financial toxicity:

“The negative patient-level impact of the cost of cancer. It is the combined impact of direct out-of-pocket costs and indirect costs and the changing financial circumstances of an individual and their household due to cancer, its diagnosis, treatment, survivorship and palliation, causing both physical and psychological harms, affecting decisions which can lead to suboptimal cancer outcomes.”

Read our paper

The Working Group led a webinar in December 2021, in collaboration with CNSA, challenging the misconception that nothing can be done to address financial toxicity.

COSA has previously endorsed the Standard for Informed Financial Consent as a key component of delivering quality care (developed by Breast Cancer Network Australia, Cancer Council Australia, CanTeen and Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia).

- For cancer information and support contact Cancer Council’s Information and Support Line on 13 11 20

- For financial, legal or workplace resources visit https://www.cancercouncil.com.au/cancer-information/legal-work-and-financial-issues/