Cost of managing women presenting with stage IV breast cancer in the United Kingdom

• Published in: British journal of cancer Vol. 91; no. 1; pp. 77 - 83
• Main Authors: REMAK, E, BRAZIL, L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basingstoke Nature Publishing Group 05.07.2004
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Breast cancer; Breast Neoplasms - economics; Breast Neoplasms - epidemiology; Breast Neoplasms - pathology; Breast Neoplasms - therapy; Cancer research; Cancer therapies; Clinical; Cost of Illness; Female; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Health Care Costs - statistics & numerical data; Health Care Surveys; Humans; Illnesses; Incidence; Mammary gland diseases; Medical research; Medical sciences; Metastasis; Neoplasm Metastasis; Palliative care; Patients; Practice Patterns, Physicians' - statistics & numerical data; R&D; Radiation therapy; Registries - statistics & numerical data; Research & development; Tumors; United Kingdom - epidemiology; Womens health; United Kingdom; Europe; United Kingdom > UK; Human; Costs; Breast cancer; Metastasis; Malignant tumor; Epidemiology; economic burden; Incidence; stage IV breast cancer; Mammary gland diseases; Cancerology; Health economy; metastatic breast cancer; Female; Advanced stage; Economic aspect; Mammary gland; cost of illness
• ISSN: 0007-0920; 1532-1827
• DOI: 10.1038/sj.bjc.6601890

This study estimated lifetime cost of treatment for patients in the United Kingdom (UK) presenting with stage IV breast cancer. To determine patterns of treatment and resource use in the absence of direct observational data, a cancer physician panel was surveyed. The survey questionnaire described four predefined treatment phases: active treatment; follow-up after active treatment until disease progression; active supportive care after progression; and end-of-life care. Physicians were asked their major treatment strategies for each phase. Monthly cost and average lifetime cost per patient were calculated. Only five cancer registries in the UK document the proportion of breast cancer patients diagnosed with stage IV disease. Their data was used to estimate the incidence of metastatic breast cancer at presentation throughout the UK. This value, together with lifetime cost per patient and projected survival time, allowed approximation of the overall cost for this population of cancer patients in the UK. Annual incidence of stage IV breast cancer at presentation in the UK is approximately 2100; according to treatment practice in 2002, lifetime cost per patient is pound 12 500 and total population cost is approximately pound 26 million. The substantial economic burden associated with patients diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer should be considered when developing strategies for reducing its incidence such as increased awareness, screening and preventative measures.