Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2008 Dec 1;19(4):247-252.
doi: 10.1053/j.scrs.2008.09.010.

Financial Consequences of Improved Treatments for Colorectal Cancer

Yu-Ning Wong  1
Affiliations

Financial Consequences of Improved Treatments for Colorectal Cancer

Yu-Ning Wong. Semin Colon Rectal Surg. .

Abstract

Improvements in translational research have led to improved survival in patients with both localized and metastatic colorectal cancer. However, these benefits come at high costs, and the introduction of six new agents since 1996 for colorectal cancer has resulted in much higher treatment related costs. Even insured patients may face very high treatment related costs through deductibles and co-payments. In addition, since colorectal cancer is a disease of the elderly, many patients may also be facing high treatment related costs for their other medical problems. Physicians should be aware of how these high costs may influence patients' treatment choices and adherence with therapy. This information may be important in counseling patients about the risks and benefits of systemic therapy. These challenges are not limited to patients with colorectal cancer, and physicians who take care of cancer patients across all disease sites will need to confront this increasingly complex issue.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Andre T, et al. Oxaliplatin, fluorouracil, and leucovorin as adjuvant treatment for colon cancer. N Engl J Med. 2004;350(23):2343–1. - PubMed
    1. The NCCN Colon Cancer Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology. National Comprehensive Cancer Network, Inc; 2008. [Accessed April 30, 2008]. (Version 1.2008). Available at: http://www.nccn.org.
    1. Petrylak DP, et al. Docetaxel and Estramustine Compared with Mitoxantrone and Prednisone for Advanced Refractory Prostate Cancer. N Engl J Med. 2004;351(15):1513–1520. - PubMed
    1. Benson AB., III New Approaches to Assessing and Treating Early-Stage Colon and Rectal Cancers: Cooperative Group Strategies for Assessing Optimal Approaches in Early-Stage Disease. Clin Cancer Res. 2007;13(22):6913s–6920. - PubMed
    1. Figueredo A, et al. Adjuvant Therapy for Stage II Colon Cancer: A Systematic Review From the Cancer Care Ontario Program in Evidence-Based Care’s Gastrointestinal Cancer Disease Site Group. J Clin Oncol. 2004;22(16):3395–3407. - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources