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CostHelper > Health & Personal Care  > Cancer Treatments > Prostate Cancer Treatment

Prostate Cancer Treatment Cost


How Much Does Prostate Cancer Treatment Cost?

 
average costWith Health Insurance: Copays + 10%-50% Coinsurancehigh costWithout Health Insurance: $10,000-$100,000+

Prostate cancer treatment can range from watchful waiting to surgery, radiation therapy and hormone therapy, which blocks the male hormones that can contribute to prostate cancer growth.

Typical costs:

  • For patients with health insurance, out-of-pocket costs for prostate cancer treatment typically consist of doctor visit, lab and prescription drug copays as well as coinsurance of 10%-50% for surgery and other procedures. Prostate cancer treatment typically is covered by health insurance, although some plans may not cover certain drugs or treatments.
  • For patients without health insurance, the cost of prostate cancer treatment can vary widely depending on the individual case. For very early stage prostate cancer, a watchful waiting approach could cost less than $10,000 over a five-year period, while costs for advanced prostate cancer treatment could reach $50,000-$100,000 or more.
  • For example, Straub Clinic & Hospital[1] in Hawaii charges slightly less than $20,000 for removal of the prostate, including an uninsured discount. But the price drops to less than $14,000 if the bill is paid in full in 90 days, or less than $12,000 if paid in 30 days. Saint Elizabeth Regional Medical Center[2] in Nebraska charges about $11,000- $18,000, not including the doctor fee, for removal of the prostate. The hospital charges more than $20,000 for removal of regrowth of prostate tissue.Radiation therapy for prostate cancer cost $12,000-$40,000.
  • According to the American Cancer Society[3] , prostate cancer costs, on average, about $4,300 initially and about $9,100 over five years, for watchful waiting. It costs about $15,000 initially and $19,000 over five years for surgery. It costs about $17,500 initially and $25,000 total over five years for hormone therapy with radiation. For patients with advanced prostate cancer, costs can reach $100,000 or more.
Related articles: Prostate Cancer Test, PSA Test, Biopsy, Radiation Therapy, Chemotherapy, Health Insurance

What should be included:
  • In some cases, especially for older patients or those with other health problems, a doctor might recommend watchful waiting or active surveillance[4] .
  • Surgery[5] often is recommended for early-stage prostate cancer. Sometimes, radiation therapy[6] is used alone or with surgery, especially if the surgery failed to remove all of the cancer.
  • When the cancer has spread or other treatments failed, chemotherapy[7] often is recommended. Typically, only one drug will be used. Drugs sometimes used to treat prostate cancer include Docetaxel[8] , Cabazitaxel[9] , Mitoxantrone[10] and others.
  • For prostate cancer that has spread, hormone therapy[11] might be recommended. This can range from surgery to remove one or both testicles to drugs that curtail the production of male hormones in order to slow cancer growth.
  • Cancer.gov offers an overview[12] of prostate cancer treatment.
Additional costs:
  • Prostate cancer patients will need regular follow-up doctor visits and screenings to check for recurrence. A PSA test costs about $20, with an additional $25-$100 for a doctor visit. According to the American Society of Clinical Oncology, follow-up costs for the first two years after treatment averaged about $1,000 in one group of patients.
Discounts:
  • Many hospitals give discounts of up to 30% or more to uninsured patients or those paying cash. For example, Washington Hospital Healthcare System[13] in California offers a 35%discount.
  • Some states offer programs that provide free or discounted cancer treatment. For example, the IMPACT Program[14] offers free prostate cancer treatment for qualifying uninsured residents who meet income guidelines.
  • The Cancer Financial Assistance Coalition offers a financial assistance locator[15] by zip code or state.
Shopping for prostate cancer treatment:
  • The American Society of Clinical Oncology offers an oncologist locator[16] by state with the option to search for a genitourinary cancer specialist. And the National Cancer Institute has a search tool[17] for NCI-designated cancer centers.
  • WebMD offers a guide to types of cancer specialists[18] , and the National Cancer Institute offers a guide[19] to finding a doctor or cancer treatment facility.
  • ClinicalTrials.gov offers a list of clinical trials for prostate cancer[20] .
Material on this page is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. Always consult your physician or pharmacist regarding medications or medical procedures.
 
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External Resources:
  1.  www.straubhealth.org/sch/my-hospital-bill/uninsured-calculator.aspx
  2.  www.saintelizabethonline.com/price-estimator-1.html
  3.  pressroom.cancer.org/index.php?s=43&item=264
  4.  www.cancer.org/cancer/prostatecancer/detailedguide/prostate-cancer-treating-watchf...
  5.  www.webmd.com/prostate-cancer/guide/prostate-cancer-surgery
  6.  www.webmd.com/prostate-cancer/prostate-cancer-radiation-therapy
  7.  www.cancer.org/cancer/prostatecancer/detailedguide/prostate-cancer-treating-chemot...
  8.  www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/druginfo/docetaxel
  9.  www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/druginfo/fda-cabazitaxel
  10.  www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/meds/a608019.html
  11.  www.webmd.com/prostate-cancer/hormone-therapy
  12.  www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/prostate/Patient/page4
  13.  www.whhs.com/about/washington-hospital-discount-policy-for-uninsured/
  14.  www.california-impact.org/
  15.  www.cancerfac.org/
  16.  www.cancer.net/all-about-cancer/newly-diagnosed/find-oncologist/find-oncologist-da...
  17.  cancercenters.cancer.gov/cancer_centers/
  18.  www.webmd.com/cancer/your-cancer-specialists-doctors-you-need-to-know
  19.  www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Therapy/doctor-facility
  20.  clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?term=prostate+cancer
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