A Canadian survey finds many women fighting the disease are struggling to pay the bills.
According to a survey released today by the Canadian Breast Cancer Network, 80 percent of women living with the disease are also dealing with financial burdens.
Forty-four percent depleted their life savings and retirement funds, while 27 percent took on debt to cover their treatment costs.
The patients also experienced an average 10 percent drop in income because many women had to leave their jobs or go on disability or medical leave.
The group which released the study is urging the government to provide better employment and insurance benefits for people with breast cancer.
