The Deadly Cost of Cancer Care in the U.S.

Share On Social!

The cost of cancer is a steep one. 

The impact of a cancer diagnosis goes beyond physical, mental, and emotional factors to include a hefty treatment price tag that few can afford.  

But with their lives at stake, cancer patients can’t afford not to pay.  

The reality is that many cancer patients are facing treatment costs that rival the worth of most people’s homes.  

A new study from the researchers at the American Cancer Society (ACS) and published in the JNCI: Journal of the National Cancer Institute found that cancer-related expenses differ greatly depending on cancer type, stage, and phases of care. 

Let’s go over these findings and the importance of early detection and intervention, including cancer screenings, for Latinos and all cancer patients.  

Study Results on the Cost of Cancer Care 

ACS researchers examined data of individuals aged 66 or older who were diagnosed with cancer between 2008 and 2019. 

They determined that cancer-related spending was highest among patients diagnosed with advanced stage cancers. 

Those receiving end-of-life care were even higher with costs averaging $121,746 a year. 

In the initial phase of treatment, costs were $45,063 on average and continuing phases of treatment averaged $7,141 each year, according to study results. 

Costs also differed by method of treatment. 

For instance, average oral cancer drugs costs across all phases went up from $4,900 in 2013 to $11,600 in 2019. 

Despite screening tests, late-stage cancers incurred the highest costs across some of the most common cancer types.  

When caught at an early stage, colorectal cancer treatment can cost an average of $49,000 per year for the first year, compared to $116,000 a year for a late-stage diagnosis.  

For oral drug prices for breast cancer, early-stage patients paid an average of $700 a year compared with $25,000 for those with late-stage diagnoses.  

Economic Burden of Cancer Care in the U.S. 

As incidences of cancer continue to rise, especially among people in overlooked communities, so does the financial burden of care.  

Many individuals don’t have access to insurance and make too much money to apply for government-assisted health insurance through Medicaid. 

Even with insurance, the out-of-pocket costs of cancer treatment far outweigh what the average American family can afford.  

South Texas resident Arnoldo Rodriguez encountered this while being treated for stage 3 follicular lymphoma.  

After several failed attempts to treat the cancer, his care team suggested a $10,000 oral chemo medication that his insurance wouldn’t cover.  

While his care team was able to help negotiate the cost of the drug down, $2,000 a month for an oral drug was just too much. 

Instead, Arnoldo turned to a clinical trial for treatment.  

“I told them, ‘You’re a research hospital. There’s got to be something else, but I’m not going to do that.’ It was more a matter of principle for me than anything else. I could have paid that. It wasn’t like I didn’t have the resources for it, but it was [not everyone does],” Arnoldo told Salud America!  

Clinical trials are studies with volunteers that enable advances that can prevent, slow, manage, and treat diseases like cancer.  

They are helping pave the way for people who can’t pay for conventional cancer treatment while helping test new strategies and interventions.  

But one of the best ways to lower the cost of treatment is investing in ways to improve access to early detection, prevention, and screenings.  

When cancer is caught early and at its more treatable treatment is less expensive and outcomes are much better.  

To improve access to screenings, we have to remove hurdles, such as lack of insurance, transportation, and other things that keep people from being screened.  

Moreover, health educators need to understand the attitudes driving people, including Latinos, seeking preventative care.  

The 2024 Wellness Matters Survey found that 64% of Latinos skipped recommended health screenings, such as colonoscopies, pap smears, and mammograms. 

Cost of screening and cost of treatment in the event of a diagnosis were some of the top reasons for avoiding preventative care.  

Volunteer for a Cancer Clinical Trial  

One way to help people diagnosed with cancer overcome the financial burden of treatment is by finding new and more affordable ways to treat and prevent cancer. 

These strategies are tested in a safe and controlled environment and can help improve cancer symptoms and support better health outcomes.  

But more needs to be done to make sure these strategies work for everyone. 

Too few Latinos participate in clinical trials, which means there is no data to support the benefits of the intervention for this group.  

You can help future generations of cancer survivors by participating in a clinical trial or research study.  

“Volunteers in clinical trials are not only helping themselves, but they’re also building a future with potentially better treatments that can help their families in the future,” said Dr. Amelie Ramirez, director of Salud America! and the Institute for Health Promotion Research at UT Health San Antonio.   

Visit our clinical trials page to find a clinical trial, read about hero volunteers, and more!   

If you live in San Antonio, find clinical trial opportunities at the Mays Cancer Center at UT Health San Antonio’s Find a Clinical Trial database.   

On a national level, visit clinicaltrials.gov to find a clinical trial near you.