Estimating surgery, radiotherapy and systemic anti-cancer therapy treatment costs for cancer patients by stage at diagnosis

Lorna Wills (), Diana Nagarwalla (), Clare Pearson (), Sean McPhail (), Rose Hinchliffe (), Ben Sharpless (), Fahmina Fardus-Reid (), Lyndsy Ambler (), Samantha Harrison () and Jon Shelton ()
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Lorna Wills: Cancer Research UK
Diana Nagarwalla: Cancer Research UK
Clare Pearson: Cancer Research UK
Sean McPhail: National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service
Rose Hinchliffe: Cancer Research UK
Ben Sharpless: Cancer Research UK
Fahmina Fardus-Reid: Cancer Research UK
Lyndsy Ambler: Cancer Research UK
Samantha Harrison: Cancer Research UK
Jon Shelton: Cancer Research UK

The European Journal of Health Economics, 2024, vol. 25, issue 5, No 3, 763-774

Abstract: Abstract Background The increasing burden of cancer has economic implications for the healthcare system in England. However, there is limited evidence on the cost of cancer treatment. We calculated the costs of initial cancer treatment (resection, radiotherapy, systemic anti-cancer therapy [SACT]) based on stage at diagnosis. Methods Data from England’s National Cancer Registration Dataset were matched to English Hospital, Radiotherapy and SACT data for breast, lung, prostate, colon and rectal cancers diagnosed between 2016 and 2018. Treatment data were matched to National Schedule of Reference Costs data to calculate the cost of each treatment event. Results Breast, colon and rectal cancers treated with resection, radiotherapy or SACT had increasing costs with later stage at diagnosis; costs for lung and prostate cancers were lower at stages 1 and 4 compared to stages 2 and 3. In general, surgery and SACT were the most expensive treatments. Radiotherapy and SACT costs showed little change across stages 1–3; radiotherapy costs decreased in stage 4, while SACT costs increased. Conclusions This analysis estimates initial treatment costs by stage based on observed data. Future research can build on this to provide more comprehensive costings associated with cancer; this is important for future planning of cancer services.

Keywords: Cancer; Treatment; Costs; Stage at diagnosis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: H51 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1007/s10198-023-01623-5

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