The Cost of Cancer Therapy in Relation to Therapeutic Benefit

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the cost of cancer therapy in relation to the therapeutic benefit the therapy provides. This study explores; financial concerns with a cancer diagnosis, employment with a cancer diagnosis, cancer and disability status, financial hardship, costs associated with a cancer diagnosis, reasons for high cost of cancer therapy, cost of cancer therapy within the United States verses cost of cancer therapy outside the United States, and quality of life information. This case study will show statistics of the amount patients spend on cancer therapies and show patient testimonials to bring their personal financial struggles into the open. Interviews with business development individuals at ‘company’ will take place to determine the sentiment towards cancer patients financial difficulties and their perspective on the detrimental effect on cancer patients lives due to financial hardships associated with a cancer diagnosis. Policies such as single-payer health care, restricting out-of-pocket spending, and certain price control strategies, like centralized price negotiations will be discussed as possible solutions to lowering financial burdens associated with health care costs.