Cancer Doctors Appeal for More Affordable Drugs

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In the United States, cancer is the second leading cause of death, following heart disease, according to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention. Death by cancer amounts to as much as millions every year. A report done in 2011 showed that about 1,580 people died of cancer every day in 2011. According to the United States Cancer Statistics: 1999– 2011 Incidence and Mortality web-based report, the most common kinds of cancer in the U.S. are breast cancer, cervical, colorectal, liver, lung, ovarian, prostate, skin, uterine and HPV-associated cancers.

Cancer is admittedly a costly illness, a per the American Cancer Society. Some individuals inflicted by this disease choose to discontinue treatment because of the high prices of the required medicines and out-of-pocket costs, or opt to not get cancer treatment altogether.

But why are cancer drugs so expensive in the first place? The primary reason is the cost of preclinical research that goes into designing a drug. According to a Mayo Clinic report published in 2012, $50 billion was spent in aggregate by pharmaceutical companies in 2008 for research and development. Secondly, there is a "biological complexity" to cancer, making it difficult to learn everything there is to know about the disease, and how to combat it via medication.

Mayo Clinic reports: "As such, most patients currently receiving chemotherapy will die of their disease. Because of this fact, there is no competition among truly effective cancer drugs to lower their cost."

Recently, a number of doctors teamed up with grassroots organizers and politicians to appeal to pharmaceutical companies to lower the cost of cancer treatments. The Mayo Clinic Proceedings journal reports that 118 cancer experts joined forces to come up with recommendations that may lower treatment expenses.

Dr. Ayalew Tefferi, a Mayo Clinic hematologist, said in a press release that "It’s time for patients and their physicians to call for change."

For those who have been diagnosed with cancer and are looking to undergo treatment, the ACS recommends to be open about talking about cost with the attending doctor. Common questions to ask regarding the overall treatment plan include:

• Will the health insurance provider pay any part of this treatment? If not, how much do I have to pay out-of-pocket?
• How do I find out a figure for the total cost of treatment that you are recommending?
• If this treatment is not financially feasible for me, what are my other treatment options that cost less?
• Do I need approval from my health insurance provider before undergoing your recommended treatment?

It is also recommended that you know your healthcare policy. Get in touch with your insurance administrator to gain access to information on costs and coverage to make a better, well-informed medical decision.