Economic and Social Burden of Cancer Patient Sana’a Al Jomhori Hospital Cancer Center

Background: Cancer is a widespread disease that has significantly increased in recent decades, leading to substantial economic and social burdens for patients. Objectives: To find out the economic and social burden in cancer patients in Sana'a city, and its effect on patients and their families. Methods: This cross-sectional hospital-based study was carried out on 497 all new and old cancer patients with different age groups and diagnosis. Data was collecting by using closed-ended interview questionnaire was used to collect data from the population. The questioner was asking mainly about economic and social burden of cancer patient, which were filled by the patient or co-patient. Results: Age, occupation, type of cancer, and sex were related to advice to travel, while social status influenced cancer type, with children more affected by eye and skin cancers and married individuals by reproductive and breast cancers (P<0.05). Age was significantly associated with being the family breadwinner (P=0.00). Total treatment cost correlated with cancer type, age, job, treatment duration, and number of doses (P<0.05). Timing of treatment initiation influenced treatment type, with early starters (<1 year) receiving more chemotherapy and long-term patients (>3 years) more combined treatments. Additionally, disease impact was significantly linked to age, sex, and breadwinner status (P=0.00). Conclusions: Breast and endocrine cancers were the costliest, mainly due to radiotherapy. Two-thirds experienced work absence, causing financial distress that negatively affected 83% psychologically, though 60% received socio-economic support from their community.