Financial toxicity in BRCA1 and BRCA2 carriers.

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Medical Economics
• Genetic Medicine

Background:

• Financial toxicity (FT) is a known adverse effect of healthcare costs.
• Individuals with BRCA mutations face higher cancer risks, necessitating frequent screenings and potential surgeries, thus increasing their susceptibility to FT.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of financial toxicity among individuals carrying BRCA mutations.
• To describe the rates of financial toxicity in this high-risk population.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study was conducted with BRCA1/2 carriers.
• The FACIT-COST tool was utilized to measure FT, with high FT defined as a COST score below 24.
• Participants were recruited via phone and email to complete surveys.

Main Results:

• Out of 265 eligible BRCA positive female participants, 76 (28.7%) completed the survey.
• A notable 22.7% of participants reported delaying or avoiding care due to financial reasons.
• High FT was associated with increased engagement in cost-saving measures, including a 41.7% rate of care delays/avoidance due to cost (p=0.02).

Conclusions:

• Financial toxicity is a significant issue for BRCA mutation carriers.
• This study is the first to describe FT in BRCA carriers, emphasizing the need for cost counseling in clinical recommendations for this group.