Acute skin toxicity-related, out-of-pocket expenses in patients with breast cancer treated with external beam radiotherapy (original) (raw)

Radiotherapy is a vital treatment for breast cancer, with almost all patients experiencing some skin toxicity, which negatively impacts their quality of life. Patients often incur out-of-pocket expenses for self-managed care, yet the economic burden associated with these expenses remains largely undocumented. This study introduces the 'Skin Toxicity Costs' (STC) questionnaire to evaluate the nonmedical costs experienced by patients undergoing radiotherapy for breast cancer. The aims include assessing the feasibility of the STC, estimating the economic burden of skin toxicity, exploring predictors of expenditures, and investigating the relationship between skin toxicity and patients' quality of life.