There are multiple costs associated with cancer treatment.
The emotional cost of cancer is obvious: fear and anxiety become constant companions. The economic cost is less apparent initially, as the patient and their support team deals with the initial diagnosis and treatment decisions, but the economic burden a patient faces is significant.
Two recent pieces highlight this. In a study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, an analysis of data estimates both the annual cost of treatment, and productivity losses.
The CDC conducts economic research regarding cancer treatment. The goal is to understand cancer survivorship and its impact on medical costs, out-of-pocket costs, lost productivity, employment, health insurance, and access to care
The second article from the Daily Beast, Kaiser Health News outlines the rising cost of cancer treatment, and how it has impacted patients who sometimes refuse treatment due to cost, and the configuration of treatment facilities as hospitals continue to purchase physician practices. The cost of treatment in hospitals is significantly higher than in physician’s offices.
