The ultimate aims of this research are to ascertain whether cancer exacts a long-term or continuing economic toll from survivors and their families and, if it does, to identify key factors that either raise or lower that toll in order to facilitate the design of cost-minimizing interventions. A small scale study focusing on female breast cancer survivors is proposed here as a first step in this research effort. The study sample will be comprised of approximately 100 women who were treated for breast cancer at a single center at some point prior to 1993 and another 100 women matched on age and labor market status at the same point in time who have never had malignant disease. A face-to-face interview will be conducted with each case and control subject to obtain information needed to estimate the """"""""indirect morbidity costs"""""""" of breast cancer. This information includes retrospective work histories over the previous five or more years to test whether there are significant differences between cases and controls in work effort or labor market attachment, profiles of market earnings and job-related benefits to test whether there is evidence of discrimination against cancer survivors, and retrospective work histories of household members to ascertain whether breast cancer affects the earnings and wealth position of those household members as well. Survey data will be used to estimate the dollar value of these economic losses. Univariate and multivariate statistical analyses will then be conducted to assess whether the magnitude of the losses differs significantly between cases and controls. Implications of the empirical findings for designing and evaluating cancer control interventions will be discussed in some detail.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Small Research Grants (R03)
Project #
5R03CA083236-02
Application #
6173896
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZCA1-SRRB-X (M1))
Program Officer
Aziz, Noreen M
Project Start
1999-08-01
Project End
2002-01-31
Budget Start
2000-08-01
Budget End
2002-01-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2000
Total Cost
$46,757
Indirect Cost
Name
University of South Florida
Department
Public Health & Prev Medicine
Type
Schools of Public Health
DUNS #
069687242
City
Tampa
State
FL
Country
United States
Zip Code
33612
Chirikos, Thomas N; Russell-Jacobs, Anita; Jacobsen, Paul B (2002) Functional impairment and the economic consequences of female breast cancer. Women Health 36:1-20
Chirikos, Thomas N; Russell-Jacobs, Anita; Cantor, Alan B (2002) Indirect economic effects of long-term breast cancer survival. Cancer Pract 10:248-55
Chirikos, T N (2001) Economic impact of the growing population of breast cancer survivors. Cancer Control 8:177-83