Key Takeaways

Financial toxicity can increase a person’s risk of dying from cancer

Patients whose credit rating fell after a cancer diagnosis were more likely to die

Age, race marital status and other factors increased the risk of financial toxicity

THURSDAY, Oct. 9, 2025 (HealthDay News) — The financial hit from cancer care can prove fatal to some patients battling the dread disease, a new study says.

Patients whose credit rating drops after their cancer diagnosis are more likely to die fighting their malignancy, researchers reported Tuesday at the American College of Surgeons’ annual meeting in Chicago.

“Our work shows that as somebody’s credit score drops, their mortality risk increases,” lead researcher Dr. Benjamin James , chief of general surgery at Beth Israel Deaconess Me

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