Cancer care: what are the biggest difficulties for patients?

On the occasion of the 25th^e anniversary of the States General of people suffering from cancer which is this November 28, the League against cancer has decided to take stock of the management of the disease in France. With the help of Ipsos, the association interviewed 1,506 adult patients suffering from cancer diagnosed after 2013, and 1,510 caregivers of a person with cancer diagnosed during the same period.

The survey, carried out in October 2024, highlighted very significant difficulties for patients in the management of their cancer.

Cancer: 17% of patients encounter financial difficulties during their illness

Cancer patients and their loved ones don’t have to deal with just the tumor. They must also overcome several obstacles. Firstly, out-of-pocket costs and financial difficulties. In fact, 17% of the patients questioned admit to having money problems even though they have a professional activity during their care.

Added to this is a lack of information on the systems in place. Nearly 6 in 10 people affected by cancer believe they are not informed of the services that could help them finance their care. 56% consider themselves insufficiently informed about financial aid and 59% about existing associations.

For the League Against Cancer, these figures show a lack of information and the importance of improving financial support for patients.

Care pathway: numerous obstacles due to tensions in the medical world

There are also gaps in the treatment of cancer itself, underlines the organization. 27% of patients wait a month or more for an appointment with their oncologist. More than one in ten patients wait more than two months (13%).

Another very worrying problem: interruption of care. Nearly 3 in 10 respondents have encountered this during their healthcare journey, mainly due to the unavailability of healthcare professionals (24%) or medications (18%). The League Against Cancer specifies that this is a “problem widespread throughout France (regardless of the region or the size of the city)”.

In addition, 38% of the patients surveyed were not referred to supportive care, while those who were are mostly satisfied (87%), deplore the authors of the survey.

“These data highlight significant gaps in cancer care, in particular lack of information, access to care and support, and the increase in out-of-pocket costs. They highlight, 25 years after the different Cancer Plans and the different measures in place, the need to improve these aspects to better meet the needs of people with cancer”concludes the League against Cancer in its press release submitted on November 28.

The League plans to develop proposals to resolve the gaps highlighted in the care of cancer patients. They will be brought together in the form of a manifesto which will be submitted to public authorities on World Cancer Day, February 4, 2025.