Can you research a ballpark figure for the cost of combatting cancer
in the US, in terms of screening, treating, and researching future
cancer treatments, over some recent period, say 2003, please. Maybe
offer a projection for the coming years if some trend is obvious.

Costs would include cost of:
scanning equipment for mammographies, PSA tests, etc etc
scanning and testing
doctors' visits and fees
hospital treatments
hospital stays
surgeons' fees
pharmaceutical drugs
chemotherapy drugs
radiation treatment
government's and public's contributions to cancer research
cost of bodies like the ACS, NCI, other research bodies, etc
and anything else that you deem is relevant 

I have come across a figure of 180 billion per year but this probably
doesn't include everything above. I would like some verification and
approximate breakdown for an article I am writing.

Thank you.

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Request for Question Clarification by bobbie7-ga on 08 Oct 2004 16:54 PDT

I located a figure of $189.5 billion as the total financial cost of
cancer for the year 2002.

I can provide you with the following three figures that make up this cost.

- Direct Medical Costs: (total of all health expenditures)
- Indirect Morbidity Costs: (cost of lost productivity due to illness)
- Indirect Mortality Costs:  (cost of lost productivity due to premature death)

Does this information interest you?

Thanks,
Bobbie7

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Clarification of Question by karon-ga on 08 Oct 2004 17:38 PDT

Hi bobbie7-ga

I regard the last 2 costs - indirect morbidity and mortality costs are
not really part of the 'cost of combatting cancer'. But I reserve
judgement on that.

The first cost and its breakdown is.

So yes, the figures and their breakdown are useful but can you source
some of the other costs in my list too, please, for us to look at and
maybe discuss further.

I'm trying to get a feel for the cost of what some people call the
"cancer industry" as run by the "cancer establishment".

Many thanks
karon-ga

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Request for Question Clarification by bobbie7-ga on 08 Oct 2004 17:53 PDT

Thank you for your clarification. I?ll resume my search and if I
locate any relevant information I will let you know.

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Request for Question Clarification by bobbie7-ga on 08 Oct 2004 18:33 PDT

Hello again KAron,

Unfortunately, I did not find a breakdown for Direct Medical Costs.

-------------------------------------------

There are quite a bit of studies available at the National Cancer Institute.

Studies: Economic Burden of Cancer
http://healthservices.cancer.gov/areas/economics/burdenstudies.html

The Cost of Cancer Care
http://healthservices.cancer.gov/areas/economics/care.html

The Cost of Cancer Care in Clinical Trials
http://healthservices.cancer.gov/areas/economics/clinical.html

You may request copies of any of these publications by sending an
e-mail message to kb36v@nih.gov.

Is this the kind of information you require?

Thanks,
Bobbie7

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Clarification of Question by karon-ga on 08 Oct 2004 19:30 PDT

Hi Bobbie7-ga, I need a supported "ballpark figure" rather than a lot
of information that I have to obtain and process.  That is why I am
using this service - because I don't have the time to research it
myself.
Thanks, karon-ga.

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Request for Question Clarification by bobbie7-ga on 08 Oct 2004 20:24 PDT

I am unlocking this question so that another researcher can hopefully
provide you with more relevant information.

Regards,
Bobbie7

Dear Karon,

I located the following information.

Projected sales of anti-cancer drugs and biopharmaceuticals is  $11.6
billion for the year 2003.

From Medtech Insight, LLC, a leading provider of medical technology
business information
 
?In 2003, an estimated 1.3 million Americans will be diagnosed with
cancer and 1 in 4 deaths will be due to the disease. In addition to
the tragic human toll, the cost of fighting cancer exceeds $171
billion annually in the U.S.; of this, over $12 billion is spent on
sophisticated products to treat and support cancer patients. The
market for anti-cancer drugs and biopharmaceuticals is far and above
the largest segment of the total U.S. cancer treatment market with
projected sales of $11.6 billion in 2003, however, the segment
forecasted to experience the greatest relative gains over the
2002-2007 forecast period is tumor ablation, specifically cryoablation
and radiofrequency, based on the positive clinical outcomes of these
techniques in treating certain patient subsets with liver and prostate
cancers."

Medtech Insight, LLC: December 12, 2003
http://www.medtechinsight.com/newsroom/news121203.html


$14 billion dollars in spent on cancer research.

Excerpt:
 
?Research shows that in UK every year somewhere between £450 to £500
million is spent on cancer research by the pharmaceutical industries,
charitable organisations and government. In US an estimated $14
billion dollars (£7.72 billion) are spent.?
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/health/article_702.shtml

Does this help?

Thanks,