We've spent the past year digging into this - talking with dozens of patients, caregivers, doctors, researchers, and economists to understand what's happening, what it's costing people, and what can actually help. Scroll down to explore our reporting project, The True Cost of Young Cancer. Our video and six stories delve into the most pressing aspects of this trend, from the unique financial challenges to the patchwork of fertility laws that young patients face.
Business Insider has spent a year reporting on the true cost of a cancer diagnosis for young Americans. Cancer cases are rising for people in their 20s, 30s, and 40s, derailing finances and future plans at a pivotal stage of life. Dozens of patients have told us they're navigating relationships, fertility decisions, early parenthood, and career growth alongside treatment. They're paying medical bills and for all the unexpected costs along the way.
While past studies have explored how cancer patients' financial health influenced their risk of mortality, new research digs in deeper by zeroing in on objective data: credit scores. It found that when a cancer patient's credit score drops - regardless of where it started pre-diagnosis - odds of survival decrease drastically. The findings were presented earlier this month at the American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress and have not been peer-reviewed.