Poster Presentation Clinical Oncology Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting 2026

Financial toxicity and its impact on patient and caregiver wellbeing following treatment for gastrointestinal cancers (146570)

Norma B Bulamu 1 2 , Molla M Wassie 1 2 , Tomonori Aoki 1 , Jean Winter 1 2 , Savio George Barreto 1 , Paul Hollington 3 , David I Watson 3 , Erin L Symonds 1 2
  1. Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SOUTH AUSTRALIA, Australia
  2. Bowel Health Service, Flinders Medical Centre, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia
  3. Gastroenterology Department, Flinders Medical Centre, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia

Background

Financial toxicity experienced by cancer patients is detrimental to the patients’ and caregivers’ wellbeing.  It is attributed to the significant out-of-pocket (OOP) expenses incurred in addition to interruption in income generation, mostly experienced in the first 12 months post-diagnosis. Our aim was to examine this relationship post-treatment for gastrointestinal cancers.

Methods

Patients who completed treatment for gastrointestinal cancers and their caregivers were invited. The patient survey included validated wellbeing questionnaires: EORTC QLQ-C30 (global quality of life, good QoL >60, poor QoL <60) and satisfaction with life scale (SWLS, satisfied ≥21, dissatisfied <20). Financial toxicity was assessed using the COST-FACIT (low/no risk ≥ 26, high risk < 26), and an OOP cost questionnaire. Caregivers completed the Care-Related Quality of Life questionnaire (CarerQol-7D, good QoL >75, high caregiving burden <65). Relationships were examined using pairwise correlation analysis.

Results

Sixty-one patients completed the survey (median age 75 years (IQR:68,79), 69% male). Caregivers (n=19) were mostly female (67%) with median age of 72 years (IQR: 62,76). Median time post-treatment was 20 months (IQR:15, 28) and OOP cost was $170 (IQR:56, 312) over the 3 months prior to the survey. Low risk of financial toxicity (mean=28, SD=10) was reported, good QoL (mean=73, SD=18) and satisfaction with life (mean=23, SD=8). Caregiver QoL was good (mean=80, SD=21). Patient QoL and SWLS were moderately negatively correlated with OOP cost (r=-0.322, p=0.040, and r=-0.466, p=0.002) and with financial toxicity (r=0.338, p= 0.016 and r=0.376, p=0.007 respectively). Caregiver QoL was not significantly correlated with OOP cost or financial toxicity.

Conclusion

Good QoL, satisfaction with life and low risk of financial toxicity are reported in patients post-treatment completion for gastrointestinal cancers.  Patient wellbeing is positively correlated with a low risk of financial toxicity but negatively correlated with OOP costs. Caregivers QoL was not correlated with financial toxicity or OOP costs.