Increased uptake of social security benefits among long-term survivors of cancer in childhood, adolescence and young adulthood: a Norwegian population-based cohort study

Abstract

Background:As the number of cancer survivors increases, their health and welfare have come into focus. Thus, long-term medical consequences of cancer at a young age (<25 years), obtained from social security benefit records, were studied.Methods:Standardised incidence ratios (SIRs) of long-term medical consequences for 5-year cancer survivors, born during 1965–1985, were explored by linking population-based registries in Norway.Results:Among the 5-year cancer survivors (4031 individuals), 29.7% received social security benefits. The survivors had an overall 4.4 times (95% confidence interval (95% CI): 4.1–4.6) higher risk of social security benefit uptake than the cancer-free population. Survivors of malignancies of bone and connective tissues (SIR: 10.8; 95% CI: 9.1–12.9), CNS tumours (SIR: 7.7; 95% CI: 6.9–8.6) and malignancies of the haematopoietic system (SIR: 6.1; 95% CI: 5.3–7.0) had the highest risks of social security benefits uptake. The most notified causes of social security benefit uptake were diseases of the nervous system, and injury and poisoning.Conclusion:The uptake of social security benefits among 5-year cancer survivors increased substantially and it may represent a solid outcome measure for the burden of the most severe late effects, especially in countries with comparable social welfare systems.

Surviving childhood cancer: a systematic review of studies on risk and determinants of adverse socioeconomic outcomes

“…The highest risk was observed for the uptake of attendance benefits (age 0–14 at diagnosis: 20.5% (standardised incidence ratio (SIR): 18.3, 95% CI: 16.4–20.5), age 15–19 at diagnosis: 3.3% (SIR: 17.9, 95% CI: 12.4–25.0) vs . 1.1% among the general population), indicating financial compensation for the use of services (e.g., nursing or home care), but also basic benefits granted as a result of health problems (e.g., support bandages, transport, guide dog) and disability pension were significantly higher among survivors . Similar results were reported in Sweden, where CNS tumour survivors had a 10 times higher risk than the general population for having received at least one social security benefit (handicap allowance, disability assistance or sickness pension) (RR: 10.7, 95% CI: 9.3–12.8) .…”

“…Table summarises the findings on the uptake of social security benefits. Every study reported increased uptake of various social security benefits by survivors of childhood cancer …”

Educational attainment among long-term survivors of cancer in childhood and adolescence: a Norwegian population-based cohort study

“…In an earlier study, we showed that cancer survivors received disability pensions more frequently than the cancerfree population [2]. When cancer survivors were considered alone, we observed that survivors with a university education received disability pensions to a lower extent (HR, 0.2; 95 % CI 0.1,0.4) than the other cancer survivors with only compulsory or intermediate education.…”

“…Cancer survivors are at increased risk of late effects [2], and their social development and academic progress are also influenced due to months and years of missed school, and the general burden of cancer and its treatment [3,4]. These effects are not always immediate but may be persistent or appear later in adult life.…”

Scolarité et devenir social après un cancer dans l’enfance

“…Les plus grands bénéficiaires sont dans l'ordre décroissant : les patients atteints de tumeurs osseuses, de TC et d'hémopathies. Ceci est en rapport avec les atteintes du SNC liées à la maladie ou aux traitements neurotoxiques, les séquelles chirurgicales ou les toxicités des traitements autres que neurologiques [32].…”