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 |  | With Health Insurance: Copays + 10%-50% Coinsurance |  | Without Health Insurance: $10,000-$100,000+ |
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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
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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] .
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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: | - www.straubhealth.org/sch/my-hospital-bill/uninsured-calculator.aspx
- www.saintelizabethonline.com/price-estimator-1.html
- pressroom.cancer.org/index.php?s=43&item=264
- www.cancer.org/cancer/prostatecancer/detailedguide/prostate-cancer-treating-watchful-wa...
- www.webmd.com/prostate-cancer/guide/prostate-cancer-surgery
- www.webmd.com/prostate-cancer/prostate-cancer-radiation-therapy
- www.cancer.org/cancer/prostatecancer/detailedguide/prostate-cancer-treating-chemotherapy
- www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/druginfo/docetaxel
- www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/druginfo/fda-cabazitaxel
- www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/meds/a608019.html
- www.webmd.com/prostate-cancer/hormone-therapy
- www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/prostate/Patient/page4
- www.whhs.com/about/washington-hospital-discount-policy-for-uninsured/
- www.california-impact.org/
- www.cancerfac.org/
- www.cancer.net/all-about-cancer/newly-diagnosed/find-oncologist/find-oncologist-database
- cancercenters.cancer.gov/cancer_centers/
- www.webmd.com/cancer/your-cancer-specialists-doctors-you-need-to-know
- www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Therapy/doctor-facility
- clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?term=prostate+cancer
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