PeopleBeatingCancer supports an evidence-based integrative approach to cancer care. For most newly diagnosed patients, FDA-approved therapies form the foundation of treatment, while evidence-based complementary therapies may help reduce side effects and improve survivorship.
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Cancer Crowdfunding: Why So Many Patients Need It—and Why It Often Isn’t Enough. Why do cancer patients use crowdfunding? Many cancer patients turn to crowdfunding because treatment costs, lost wages, travel expenses, and insurance gaps create significant financial stress. While crowdfunding can provide temporary relief, research shows that many campaigns raise only a fraction of the money patients need, highlighting the broader problem of financial toxicity in cancer care.
This Medscape article landed in my inbox today. I thought that PeopleBeatingCancer should look beyond writing about cancers and therapy-related side effects and talk about how treatment-related costs, lost income, travel expenses, and everyday bills have become overwhelming.
“When Danny Hoyland was diagnosed with stage III colorectal cancer in February 2025, the first stage of treatment for the 40-year-old father of two was immediate, aggressive chemotherapy followed by a summer marked by radiation therapy.
Hoyland had health insurance, but “the medical bills kicked in right away,” his mother, Barbara Todisco, told Medscape Medical News.
Hoyland’s deductible was $10,000, followed by a $9000 out-of-pocket maximum. If treatment spans more than a year, as Hoyland’s did, the plan resets.
Despite the aggressive treatment, Hoyland’s cancer progressed to stage IV. In October, his friend launched a GoFundMe campaign to ask Hoyland’s community to help offset the cost of his care. The goal was $50,000…”
To some degree, I don’t want to saddle you with another issue to worry about. A diagnosis of cancer is enough to worry about. However, if my experience is any guide, it’s better to know about financial toxicity going into a cancer diagnosis than to dig a financial hole and try to get out with a GoFundMe campaign.
FYI- I ignored a stream of envelopes that I received once I began therapy. These envelopes contained “EOBs” or “explanation of benefits” from my health insurance company. I’m embarrassed to admit that I didn’t really understand what my health insurance covered, what it didn’t, what my copays, deductibles, etc. were. I was angry and decided not to open the envelopes. That was a big mistake…
This may sound boring, but one of the first things I’d recommend after you are told that you have cancer is to carefully read your health insurance’s explanation of benefits. This document may be called something else, but you must find the document that explains your health policy.
“Financial toxicity” refers to the harmful, overwhelming out-of-pocket costs, lost income, and psychological distress caused by a cancer diagnosis and its treatment. It impacts an estimated 20% to 40% of patients and is considered a clinical side effect as severe and debilitating as the physical symptoms of chemotherapy. [1, 2, 3]
Deductibles- A deductible in health insurance is the amount of money you must pay out-of-pocket for covered medical services before your insurance company starts to pay. [1, 2]
Copays(or copayments) are fixed, flat fees you pay out of pocket for a specific covered medical service or prescription, usually paid directly at the doctor’s office or pharmacy. [1]
Lost income or Loss of income is the reduction or complete cessation of earnings that an individual or business experiences due to an unforeseen event.
Travel costs- generally refer to the expenses incurred when traveling, which include transportation, lodging, and meals.
Caregiver expenses- Caregiver expenses include out-of-pocket costs for medical care, paid help, home modifications, and daily living support. [1, 2, 3, 4]
Long-term side effects that affect employment- A cancer diagnosis and its treatments often cause lingering physical, cognitive, and emotional side effects. These can lead to persistent employment disruptions, reduced earning potential, and a higher risk of job loss compared to the general population. [1, 2]
Why Cancer Patients Turn to Crowdfunding
Growing use of GoFundMe and similar platforms.
Emotional burden of asking friends and family for help.
Why do even insured patients struggle financially
The Reality: Most Campaigns Don’t Reach Their Goal
Crowdfunding raises millions collectively.
Most individual campaigns fall short.
Only a minority achieves fundraising targets.
The Hidden Costs of Cancer That Nobody Talks About
