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Delayed access to care, a difficult care pathway, unfair out-of-pocket costs… The assessment of cancer care drawn up by the League Against Cancer is worrying. According to the association, this deterioration of care constitutes a threat to the health of patients causing serious losses of opportunity.
The observation is severe but according to the League Against Cancer, it reflects the deterioration of patient care with an extension of time to access care, difficulties in accessing medications, a lack of support and support. and still too large out-of-pocket costs.
Delays in accessing care that continue to lengthen
Since 2018, the National Cancer Institute (INCa) and the High Authority of Health (HAS) have formalized recommendations concerning the expected times between the different stages of cancer treatment. In the management of breast cancer, the time between performing the alert mammogram and access to the first treatment should not exceed 6 weeks for breast cancer.
The BVA by the Inca!
The League denounces a situation which continues to deteriorate: “The results show on average a cumulative delay of two weeks between suspicion and the start of treatments. At the same time, due to delays in accessing treatments, the average duration of the treatment course has also lengthened considerably, with an additional 6 weeks on average.“. Delays far from the quality and safety indicators of care recently developed by the INCa and the HAS.
Difficulties in accessing medicines which reduce patient survival
The drug shortages experienced by many patients take on an even more worrying nature when it comes to cancer. And the phenomenon is not rare: 78% of health professionals surveyed have already been faced with a shortage of medicines. It is almost always drugs intended to treat the complications or side effects of cancer that top the list followed by other drugs used during the course of care such as curares and chemotherapies. These shortages have consequences for sick people: anxiety and anxiety (32%), significant loss of time searching for unavailable medication (28%), worsening of other symptoms (7%) and even cancer (3%).
47% of professionals believe that drug shortages have a negative impact on the 5-year survival of their patients.
A care journey strewn with pitfalls
Postponements, refusals or cancellations of care would affect 3 out of 10 cancer patients. The most vulnerable people (income less than 2,500 euros per month), those who reside in Paris are particularly affected by the postponements or cancellations of consultations or of care. A phenomenon which affects public healthcare establishments more than cancer centers (CLCC) or private hospitals. And in overseas departments and regions, 50% of caregivers of sick people report problems accessing care for their sick loved one! The survey reveals that women and people of color are less well taken care of.
Residual charges which create a feeling of injustice
In 2023, almost a third (29%) of participants will still declare out-of-pocket expenses during their care journey. These uncovered expenses are linked to supportive care, use of alternative medicine, home help or accommodation costs when treatments take place away from home. And finally, despite the reform of the coverage of hair prostheses which took place in 2019, 14% of participants in our survey reported out-of-pocket expenses for the acquisition of their wig.
“After my treatments, I started hormone therapy. The treatment causes many side effects and requires taking treatments, some of which are not covered by Social Security. This represents an expense of 180 to 200 euros per month which comes out of my pocket. This remaining liability linked to side effects is revolting. We have the impression that once the treatment process is over, we have to fend for ourselves.” testifies Aurélie, suffering from breast cancer.
Faced with these observed deteriorations, the League Against Cancer affirms its commitment alongside sick people and their caregivers. “Nothing should set us back in the fight against inequalities. It is in fact people already living in complex situations who will find themselves more vulnerable to the disease: inequalities in access to screening programs, late diagnoses, difficulties in accessing treatments and their proper compliance, inadequate information, giving up to care, lack of access to clinical trials” underlines Daniel Nizri, national president of the League Against Cancer.