A Health Affairs study that made news this week notes the increasing cost of cancer drugs, as well as the effect rising prices have on prescribing practices. A survey of nearly 1,400 oncologists in the US found 84% say treatments are influenced by their patients’ out-of-pocket spending. While the vast majority supported further research into comparative and cost effectiveness, nearly half of oncologists believed a drug was of good value for $50,001-$100,000 per life-year gained.
The New York Times also recently took a look at high-price cancer drugs. When it comes to drugs like Folotyn — for which a month’s worth of treatment costs up to $37,000 — pharmaceutical companies point out the funds needed for research and development.
But the current system is one of heartbreak: It’s not unheard of for individuals to mortgage their house or even file for bankruptcy due to the high cost of their cancer medications. To put into perspective just how much some cancer patients have to spend, it might be useful to compare these drug prices to a well-known commodity; and please know that, in doing so, we in no way mean to imply that the medicines are not worth the cost. Here are the cars you could afford with the same amount of money as a month’s worth of some cutting-edge cancer drugs (below the fold):
For: Certain forms of colorectal, lung, and breast cancer
Average treatment cost: $8,800/month
For that price: 2 Tata Nano LX cars
For: Certain forms of colorectal and head and neck cancer
Average treatment cost: $10,000/month
For that price: ’10 Hyundai Accent
For: Chronic lymphocytic leukemia
Average treatment cost: Approximately $16,000/month
For that price: ’10 Pontiac Vibe
For: B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia
Average treatment cost: $20,000/month
For that price: ’10 Toyota Camry
For: Peripheral T-cell lymphoma
Average treatment cost: Up to $37,000/month
For that price: ’10 Nissan 370Z
For: Pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Average treatment cost: $68,000/2 weeks of treatment**
For that price: ’10 Lexus SC 430
Car prices via Consumer Guide Automotive and infibeam.com