The Real Cost of Breast Cancer — And How You Can Help While You Shop

This year, the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) predicts that 316,950 women and 2,800 men will be diagnosed with an invasive form of breast cancer, while 59,080 others will learn they have a non-invasive form of the disease. Facing a breast cancer diagnosis can be devastating for both a patient’s physical and psychological health, but for many, they may also face financial challenges.

Luckily, making a positive change in the lives of those affected doesn’t need to be complex or costly. That’s why this month, we proudly continue to team up with NBCF to support the brave women and men facing this challenging battle. We’re committed to making a lasting change in their lives by contributing $5,000 to NBCF, and with your help, we can increase our impact. When you use one of our featured coupons, we’ll add on additional fee-free donations on your behalf so we can help ease their burden in more ways than one.

The Financial Burden of Breast Cancer

Unfortunately, receiving a breast cancer diagnosis can also lead to many unexpected stressors, such as financial hardship. According to the CDC, breast cancer treatment is one of the most expensive out of any cancer. They estimate that the average cost for a patient with breast cancer is $35,000 for the first year after diagnosis, followed by $3,500 per year after, and $76,100 for palliative care. What’s more worrisome is that this data doesn’t include the cost of oral medications, which averages to about $1,100 for the first year, and $2,700 for end-of-life care.

Beyond medical bills, many breast cancer patients face a loss of income from reducing work hours or being fired entirely due to the massive physical toll that results from treatments like chemotherapy and surgery. This often results in an unstable financial family situation, as family members now carry some of the extra costs and the responsibility of taking their loved ones to their hospital appointments, adding even more financial and emotional stress to the dynamic.

Adding more to the complexity, the stressors that come from breast cancer are vastly unequal. An article from the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) explains how factors like family income and even race play a huge role in the financial impact it will have. According to Breastcancer.org, Black women are the most likely to die of the disease compared to any other ethnicity. Moreover, survivors of breast cancer pay more for health care, and in turn, suffer more financially than those who have never been diagnosed.

The ACS CAN article also provided data from a 2018 to 2020 study about the annual average health care expenses for women ages 18 to 65 who have had breast cancer compared to those who have not. The results were staggering: the average breast cancer survivor in the data group paid $19,251, more than three times higher than the group that never had cancer ($5,944). Even more, 20% of survivors reported that they’ve struggled with paying medical bills, 12% said they’ve skipped medication due to financial reasons, and 16% have even experienced food insecurity as a result of their treatment costs.

Where Donations Go: NBCF’s Lifesaving Work

NBCF is committed to deconstructing the barriers that often surround survivors of breast cancer. By providing life-changing initiatives like the Patient Relief Program, survivors receive financial assistance so necessities like food, prescription medicine, cost of living, and transportation become less of a worry, allowing them to focus on getting better.

Through its Patient Navigator Program, NBCF is reducing mortality rates and improving survivors’ quality of life. This program takes a comprehensive approach to support, offering them assistance through financial, mental, and preventative measures. A previous member of the program explained, “Having a patient navigator really helps people get the treatment they need that they cannot afford. Like me, I could not afford it. Without the navigator, I would not have been able to do it."

NBCF’s impact doesn’t end there. The organization is deeply committed to providing education, breast cancer prevention services, and community support. The public can access free educational guides that help to demystify common myths about breast cancer and raise awareness about important preventative measures, like screening services available through its free National Mammography Program.

The charity also recognizes the power of community. It is dedicated to creating a safe space for breast cancer patients through support systems like the Breast Cancer Support Group, where survivors meet monthly and share their stories of hope, resilience, and bravery.

Survivor Voices: Why Your Support Matters

Your support goes towards helping real people facing one of the most challenging battles of their lives. Here are some of their testimonials:

Give Back While You Shop with SavingsCARES

At Savings.com, saving money every time you shop is at the forefront of what we do. But this philosophy extends to the causes you care about. By joining us, you’ll find that making a big difference in the lives of those around you doesn’t need to strain your budgeting goals.

Contributing to NBCF is easier and more cost-effective than ever. Simply conduct your everyday shopping as usual, but use a SavingsCARES coupon from any of our partner brands this time. From there, we’ll add donations (at no cost to you) to NBCF from the commission earned. Whether you’re shopping for new apparel or kitchenware, you’ll be able to grab great deals on the products you want, while also knowing that you’re changing someone's battle with breast cancer for the better.

Check out these brands for some SavingsCARES coupons to get you started:

• Bluebella
• Hydro Flask
• Osprey
• Bloomchic
• Maaji

To increase our impact even more, we’re also making a donation of $5,000 to NBCF at the end of the quarter, with no strings attached.

If you’d like to contribute even more to the cause, there are still many ways to help.

1. Donate directly to NBCF:
2. • $3 provides a Breast Health Kit, filled with both inspirational and educational items.
   • $12 gives breast health education services and a self-exam training session at an outreach event.
   • $40 provides someone with the lifesaving help of a patient navigator.
3. Become a company partner to make a team-wide impact.
4. Start a fundraiser through your school, social media accounts, family, and more.
5. Volunteer by visiting the Volunteer Services Center to get started.

Together, we can make a difference for breast cancer survivors, one day at a time.