Serena was working as a patient navigator in New York City when she met a woman who was an immigrant with breast cancer. A patient was seen at a safety net hospital, which provides care to people regardless of their ability to pay. She was in danger.
A woman was paying someone to sleep on her couch. She was still working during her treatment even though she was more sensitive to cold because of the damage to her nerves. She was facing a lot of challenges, including housing insecurity, poverty, cultural and language barriers, and limited access to social benefits and programs.
Studies show how social risk factors can affect a person's health. A new study shows that housing insufficiency may make cancer worse. The lead author of the study says that social risks affect how we interact with the health care system. We have shown that the risks are important.
The negative effects of housing insecurity have been shown in previous studies, from worsening peoples mental health to disrupting treatment for HIV/AIDS. It appears that insecure living is a health risk.
The study looked at the social risks experienced by more than 1,200 US cancer patients at the time of their diagnosis to see if they were exposed to risk factors that could increase their risk of dying from their cancer. There was a twofold increased risk of death for patients with unstable housing compared to people who were not.
There are a lot of different ways that social risk can affect cancer care. The risk of cancer may be raised by the stress of living in an uncertain situation. Someone's chances of receiving high-quality treatment may be affected by housing insecurity. Housing is a hub for a person to get health care and can be disrupted by instability.
The study adds to a growing body of evidence that shows a link between the issue of affordable housing and cancer.
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