Cancer and the cost of staying alive

This narrative poem reflects on the psychosocial realities of cancer care through the intertwined experiences of a patient and an oncology clinician. Centering on the issue of financial toxicity, the piece illustrates how cancer extends beyond diagnosis and treatment into the fragile structures of family life, caregiving, emotional endurance, and everyday survival. Through the patient's voice, the poem reveals that the burden of cancer is often measured not only in medical terms, but also in unpaid bills, interrupted routines, and the fear of becoming a burden to loved ones. Through the clinician's perspective, it highlights the role of psychosocial care in addressing distress, restoring dignity, and helping patients navigate both practical and emotional crises. The poem also reflects on the clinician's own emotional labor, showing how oncology practice leaves lasting impressions beyond the clinical encounter. By presenting cancer as both a medical and social experience, this piece underscores the importance of compassionate, holistic, and interprofessional psychosocial support in oncology. It invites readers to recognize that, amid financial strain and uncertainty, hope may still be sustained through small acts of care, recognition, and human presence.