Prostate Cancer Treatment Cost

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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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] .

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-watchful-wa...
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-chemotherapy
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-database
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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