Cancer

ATLANTA - The cost of cancer treatment in the United States nearly doubled in the past two decades, but expensive cancer drugs might not be the main reason why, according to a surprising new study.
Study confounds traditional wisdom in many ways. Soaring prices for new cancer treatment has received wide attention, but the researchers conclude that rising costs mainly driven by the growing number of cancer patients was.
Only 5 percent of the total U.S. study finds cancer accounts for medical expenses, and that has not changed in the last few decades.
", American Cancer Society's Dr. Len Lichtenfeld, who said he would have expected the proportion of the cost of cancer to rise I would say that I'ma little surprised."

The researchers also found that private insurance companies now a large part of the cost of cancer treatment - about 50 percent - covered, while patients' out-of-pocket costs have fallen over the last two decades.
However findings, Lichtenfeld, and other experts were shocked by some of the study, the early 2000s that the 1980s than the medical cost data is not controversy. But the picture he certainly has changed over the years.
Donors to the study of all types of cancer already being called the National Coalition for the cost and see how they have changed with time. Figures are reported in 2007 dollars.

It was found that cancer treatment costs nearly $ 25 billion more than in 1987, by the end of 2005 rose to more than $ 48 billion.
Increase in costs mainly in 20 years there are many cancer patients is due to the increase, said study lead author, the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention Florence Tangka.
Researchers in 1987 used data from national telephone surveys and 2005, which collects information on medical conditions as well as through paid the bill since 2001. Over 164 000 people were surveyed.
Study did not offer precise estimates of how the 1980s to the early 2000s changed the number of people treated for cancer. But the cancer covered by government Medicare and Medicaid programs in a number of cases showed dramatic increases. Medicine, which covers the elderly and disabled frequent cancer in the country about a third of the cost is covered. Medicaid accounts for only 3 percent.

The U.S. population is aging, and large ones to become cancerous at higher rates, Tangka noted.

Better and more advanced treatment means more people with cancer survivors, the cost increases represent money well spent, Kenneth Thorpe, Emory University health policy researcher in the health care costs have focused on said.

, Thorpe said, "We are buying into existence seems like increases."
Cancer Study, American Cancer Society is being published in a medical journal.

The researchers also found:

_The Percentage of inpatient hospital care costs of cancer by 64 percent to about 27 percent fell. Less expensive outpatient care, cost containment efforts by major health insurance companies with a change to help keep down the increase in cost per patient, the authors said.
Cancer of the costs paid by private insurance _The proportion rose to 42 to 50 percent.

Proportion of the cost of paying out of pocket by patients _The - copayments, and deductibles - including dropped 17 percent to 8 percent.
Those last two findings have surprised some experts.

Recent government reports that the percentage of Americans with private health insurance has shrunk recently hit the lowest point in 50 years. Yet the study found that cancer treatment costs paid by private insurance rose in proportion.
And companies have been strengthened or cut employee benefits, out-of-pocket expenses for many patients due to go. Yet the study found that the proportion of bills paid by patients declined.

The last finding was particularly striking, Lichtenfeld, Cancer Society, Deputy Chief Medical Officer said.

He alluded private medical bills prompted by the widely reported increase in bankruptcies. ", Lichtenfeld said there is no question that some out-of-pocket expenses for patients have risen dramatically's."
Some rising cost of treatment must also be accepted, he said.
Clinical challenge of rising prices (ASCO) Oncology, which last year how his first Chemotherapy drugs less expensive in decision making among cancer patients to talk to the doctors continue to consult the guidelines recognized by the American Society was newer, more expensive than products made more sense.
Scan studies and clinical trials, which did not add to the cost of cost drivers. And Data last five years, which some saw extremely pricey cancer drugs coming on the market is not included.
Picture of study data was collected, and the U.S. economy deteriorated, Dr. Neal Meropol, a Case Western Reserve University cancer specialist who has worked at ASCO guidelines that may since have changed.
Extensive testing of new therapies with cancer care, Meropol said the total cost are driving.
"My concern is that costs are shifted to patients and there is growing inequality in the care of a cancer" is likely, he said.