What a cancer diagnosis really costs — and why it can become a financial crisis

James Van Der Beek and his wife Kimberly.

Tasia Wells/Getty Images for The Trevor Project

• A GoFundMe for James Van Der Beek's family highlights how expensive cancer is for working-age Americans.
• Business Insider reporting shows that young adults with cancer lose $5,000 in annual wages on average.
• Financial challenges can be compounded by career setbacks and insurance stress.

A GoFundMe for James Van Der Beek's family highlights a harsh reality of young cancer diagnoses...