Family Support
Most participants endorsed family financial support as critical to navigating cancer treatment for the AYA. Families often shared responsibilities for financial support evenly, or split duties by having one family member maintain employment and work extra hours while another took on a role as primary caregiver to the AYA. Family definitions varied, sometimes including only those living in the household and other times encompassing extended family. Participants mentionedbrother-in-law and uncle in conversations about who helped them when “tight at times”. AYAs frequently mentioned the desire to be employed to support their family’s financial needs. For many participants, a major focus of family financial support was to cover the rent or mortgage.
Participants also described how their families made collective financial decisions. Most reported that finances were discussed as a family to ensure there was a plan to cover costs from the AYA’s cancer treatment and related expenses. Most caregivers emphasized that, while finances were discussed with the AYA, they preferred to manage finances, allowing the AYA to focus on cancer treatment. Most AYAs were aware of their family’s financial circumstances, a finding similarly endorsed by participating caregivers.
Caregivers often mentioned that family emotional support was critical to managing financial stresses and worries. Some caregivers cited their religion and faith as a support, providing them with hope that all aspects of their AYA’s treatment would work out, including the finances. For AYAs, emotional resilience was often tied to their ability to return to work and contribute to the family finances.