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.
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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