Survivor Views

The latest Survivor Views survey offers insight into how a national paid family and medical leave program could benefit cancer patients and survivors who struggle with missed work and lost income due to their illness. While only about one-fifth of workers in the United States have access to employer-paid family leave, 74% of patients and survivors surveyed have had to miss work and the majority have had to miss more than a month, with often difficult financial impacts.

With significant changes in how care has been accessed since the start of the pandemic, cancer patients and survivors report positive experiences using telehealth and are willing to use or adapt to using remote care services and technologies in the future. This survey also finds strong willingness to participate in cancer clinical trials, with interest increasing if trial sponsors offset non-medical costs such as travel and lodging.

This Survivor Views survey finds that cancer patients and survivors continue to face pandemic-related health care delays one year later, including disruptions to screenings and difficulties accessing care.

In the six months since the COVID-19 pandemic arose in the United States, cancer patients and survivors have encountered multiple challenges accessing health care.

Access an infographic showing results from the September 2020 survey on the impacts of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic on patient access to care.
 

As the COVID-19 crisis continues, the impact on cancer patients and survivors has further increased.  This follow-up to our April Survivor Views survey shows how the pandemic is affecting cancer survivors’ access the health care, financial stability, and well-being.