| |
|
 |  | With Health Insurance: Copays + 10%-50% Coinsurance |  | Without Health Insurance: $15,000-$200,000+ |
|
The most common type of kidney cancer is renal cell carcinoma[1] . Kidney cancer treatment typically involves surgery to remove part or all of the kidney, and possibly treatment with cancer-targeting drugs.
Typical costs: | - For patients with health insurance, out-of-pocket costs for kidney cancer treatment typically consist of doctor visit, lab and prescription drug copays as well as coinsurance of 10%-50% for surgery and other procedures, which can easily reach the yearly out-of-pocket maximum. Kidney cancer treatment typically is covered by health insurance, although some plans might not cover individual drugs or treatments.
- For patients not covered by health insurance, kidney cancer treatment typically costs $15,000-$75,000 or more for a nephrectomy, a kidney removal surgery. The cost depends on the extent of the surgery and whether there are complications. Treatment with drugs can add $50,000 to almost $200,000 for one course of treatment, for a total that can reach $500,000 or more, depending on the medications used.
- For example, according to Vimo.com, a health care cost comparison website, the average list price for kidney removal is more than $25,000 while the average negotiated price, through an insurance company, is about $8,000. According to the site, The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Maryland has the lowest list price for the procedure at $14,500. At Baptist Memorial Health Care, in Tennessee, a kidney surgery[2] for cancer costs from $25,000 without complications to more than $70,000 with major complications, not including doctor fee.
- The average monthly cost of sorafenib[3] , a drug commonly used to treat kidney cancer, is $2,603. And the average monthly cost of sunitinib, another drug often used, is $3,346, according to the American Society of Clinical Oncology. One course of treatment with sorafenib[4] costs about $62,200, while a course of treatment with sunitinib costs about $79,400. One course of treatment with bevacizumab, a drug given intravenously, reaches almost $175,000, according to the American Society of Clinical Oncology.
- A kidney transplant[5] , which might be an option in some cases, according to the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, can cost $260,000 or more total for the pre-transplant screening, donor matching, surgery, post surgical care and first six months of drugs. Afterward, it costs about $17,000 per year for anti-rejection drugs.
Related articles: Biopsy, Abdominal Ultrasound, Chemotherapy, Radiation Therapy, Kidney Transplant, Health Insurance
| |
What should be included: | - In many cases, surgery will be recommended to treat kidney cancer. Depending on the case, the doctor might recommend either a partial nephrectomy, in which part of the kidney is removed or a simple nephrectomy, in which a whole kidney is removed. In more advanced cases, it might be necessary to do a radical nephrectomy, in which nearby tissue, lymph nodes and the adrenal gland also are removed.
- In some cases, when surgery is not a good option, radiofrequency ablation[6] can be used to heat and destroy kidney tumors. If both kidneys are removed or do not function, the patient will require dialysis or a kidney transplant.
- In many cases, targeted therapy[7] , drugs that specifically target the cancer cells and may spare healthy cells, will be recommended. Drugs commonly used include sorafenib[8] (brand name Nexavar), sunitinib[9] (brand name Sutent), both of which are taken as a pill, as well as temsirolimus[10] (brand name Torisel), which is given by IV infusion, usually once a week.
- Kidney cancer often is resistant to chemotherapy[11] , so it might be tried only after other treatments, such as targeted therapy, have failed. Kidney cancer also tends to be resistant to radiation therapy[12] .
- In some cases, a kidney transplant might be recommended. The National Cancer Institute offers an overview of kidney cancer treatment[13] .
Additional costs: | - Dialysis can cost $500 per treatment or $50,000-$70,000 per year; however, patients might be eligible for Medicare, which provides dialysis.
Discounts: | - Many hospitals give discounts of up to 30% or more to uninsured or cash-paying patients. For example, Washington Hospital Healthcare System[14] in California offers a 35% discount.
- Some companies offer free cancer drugs to uninsured patients who cannot afford the drugs. For example, Bayer has a patient assistance program[15] that provides free Nexavar for a year.
Shopping for kidney cancer treatment: | - The Society of Surgical Oncology offers a surgical oncologist locator.
- The National Cancer Institute offers a guide[16] to finding a doctor or cancer treatment facility.
- The Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients offers a transplant center locator[17] by address.
- Medicare.gov offers a dialysis center locator[18] .
|
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.
|
|
|
|
CostHelper News
| 
7 Lesser-Known Discounts for the 50+ Crowd
As they age, members of the Baby Boomer generation don't like to admit that they're senior citizens, but they love getting discounts. It's kind of a quandary, because some of the best deals available are reduced prices for older folks. || Posted October 21 2013
| | 
7 Ways to Stretch Your Reduced Food Budget
End of the year budgets are tight for everyone, especially in this economy.It's especially hard for the millions of Americans who depend on government programs like food stamps to help make ends meet. || Posted November 11 2013
|
|
|
|
|
|
What People Are Paying - Recent Comments |
| Posted by: a user in Adelaide, Other. | Posted: July 30th, 2021 05:07AM |
| Type of Treatment: Like a king | Hospital or Medical Center: Queen Elizabeth Hospital |
| Physician: Dr Catterwell |
Can’t beat Australia’s health system hands down. |
|
|
| Posted by: Luvvy in London, Other. | Posted: June 30th, 2019 10:06AM |
| Type of Treatment: Chemotherapy | Hospital or Medical Center: Royal marsden |
| Physician: Dr. Vaidya |
6 months of chemo (victristine and actinomycin D) and surgery done successfully. If I was back home in Cali, don't think I would've been able to afford her treatment. Long live the NHS! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
External Resources: | - www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001544/
- www.baptistonline.org/expense-navigator/get-started/
- meetinglibrary.asco.org/subcategories/2009+Genitourinary+Cancers+Symposium
- meetinglibrary.asco.org/subcategories/2010+Genitourinary+Cancers+Symposium
- www.mdanderson.org/patient-and-cancer-information/cancer-information/cancer-types/...
- www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=rfakidney
- www.cancer.org/cancer/kidneycancer/detailedguide/kidney-cancer-adult-treating-targ...
- www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/meds/a607051.html
- www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/meds/a607052.html
- www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/meds/a607071.html
- www.cancer.org/cancer/kidneycancer/detailedguide/kidney-cancer-adult-treating-chem...
- www.cancer.org/cancer/kidneycancer/detailedguide/kidney-cancer-adult-treating-radi...
- www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/renalcell/Patient/page4
- www.whhs.com/about/washington-hospital-discount-policy-for-uninsured/
- www.nexavar-us.com/scripts/pages/en/patient/patient-support/reach/
- www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Therapy/doctor-facility
- www.srtr.org/csr/current/Centers/Default.aspx
- www.medicare.gov/dialysisfacilitycompare/(S(xkhbktoricuypydsbx3u5i50))/search.aspx...
More Health & Personal Care Topics
|
Search Thousands of Topics on CostHelper.com
|
|
| |
| Today's Featured Cost Articles |
|
|
|
|
Post
