With the increase of survivorship among individuals  with cancer, economic and financial problems have shown they are common obstacles. Challenges including accessing jobs, mortgages, loans and insurance increase for those who declare they have had cancer.

The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) in Brussels, Belgium have taken a deeper dive into some of the increased challenges following a cancer diagnosis. Director of Special Projects, Francoise Meunier, MD, PhD, will be releasing a series of articles in the Journal of Cancer Policy that covers the challenges faced by cancer survivors. Meunier's colleague, Lifang Liu, MD, PhD, aims to make sure people are aware that "surviving cancer is more than a medical issue" hoping the issue will increase awareness of the socioeconomic problems faced by survivors.

Difficulties faced by survivors include struggles obtaining health insurance, finding the return to work difficult due to physical limitations, and discrimination by employers fearful of reintegrating survivors back into their companies.

For more on EORTC's research and suggested next steps, click here.