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Cost of Cancer Care

ASCO has identified the rising cost of cancer care as a barrier to high-quality care for many cancer patients. To address this issue, ASCO established the Cost of Care Task Force to define challenges related to the cost of cancer care and to develop strategies to address these challenges.

Background

Advances in medical technology are increasing the cost of care for most fields of medicine, and oncology is no exception. Cancer care costs are growing rapidly, at a rate of 15% per year, and the newest drugs cost several thousand dollars per month of treatment. 33% of families are experiencing difficulty paying for their cancer care.1

The high prices of individual drugs can create a difficult situation for patients and oncologists. Many cancer patients are unfamiliar with having to make trade-offs between very high out-of-pocket costs and very expensive treatment with measurable but sometimes modest health benefits.

Additionally, oncologists are conflicted about how the cost of care should affect their behavior. For example, a recent survey of 167 medical oncologists found that, when asked whether they discuss the costs with their patients, 37% said "always," 32% said "sometimes," and 31% said "never." More than half of respondents said that when they know the cost will cause a financial strain, the oncologists omit discussion of expensive therapy altogether.2

What is ASCO Doing?

In response to the growing challenges surrounding the cost of cancer care, ASCO is committed to developing practical educational tools and resources to assist oncologists in discussing the cost of care with patients, as a component of high quality care. Tools are also being developed specifically for patients to help them raise cost of cancer care questions with their oncologists. Additionally, ASCO is committed to addressing the fundamental policy issues related to the rising cost of cancer care.

 Interested in learning more about the Cost of Care Task Force?

To learn more about what ASCO is doing to address the cost of cancer care, please visit the links below.


Cost of Care Patient Resources:  Review ASCO cost of care resources for patients.

Cost of Care Physician Resources:  Review current ASCO physician resources related to the cost of cancer care.


 
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