Should the cost of care for patients with glioblastoma influence treatment decisions?

Abstract

This article presents the case of a patient with recurrent glioblastoma who questions whether he can or should pay for treatment with bevacizumab. There are differing views on the physician's role in dealing with cost and cost-effectiveness issues for patients, but it is becoming increasingly unrealistic for physicians to disregard the cost of cancer care when making treatment recommendations. Physicians need to be able to address cost issues in order to allow individual patients to make the best informed decision about what treatment option is the most beneficial and the "best value" for them.