Costs of Diagnosing and Treating Nonmetastatic Breast Cancer in Canada
Author Information
Author(s): Will B P, Petit C Le, Berthelot J-M, Tomiak E M, Verma S, Evans W K
Primary Institution: The Health Analysis and Modelling Group, Statistics Canada
Hypothesis
What are the resources and costs associated with diagnosing and treating nonmetastatic breast cancer in Canada?
Conclusion
The study found that the direct health care costs for diagnosing and treating nonmetastatic breast cancer vary significantly based on age and stage of the disease.
Supporting Evidence
- Early stage breast cancer represented 87% of all incident cases.
- 77% of breast cancer cases occurred in women aged 50 and older.
- Direct costs for diagnosis and initial treatment varied significantly by age and stage.
Takeaway
This study looked at how much it costs to find and treat breast cancer in Canada, especially for women over 50.
Methodology
The study analyzed Canadian cancer registry data and surveys of oncologists to derive treatment algorithms and calculate costs.
Limitations
The study only covers initial diagnosis and treatment costs and does not include lifetime treatment costs.
Participant Demographics
The cohort consisted of 17,700 Canadian women diagnosed with breast cancer in 1995, with a majority being over 50 years old.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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