Prostate Cancer in the Pre and Post Diagnosis Phase ? A Population Based Study on Health Care Costs

Introduction:

Prostate cancer is globally the second most common malignancy in men. In Sweden it is the most frequently diagnosed cancer. The incidence is increasing, mainly because of an older population and the possibilities for earlier detection of the disease. Furthermore, a great number of patients live for a considerable time following the diagnosis as the disease often progresses slowly. Despite declining mortality rates, costs are thus expected to further raise in the future .Previous studies have shown that the cost burden of prostate cancer is high and varies according to treatment type. 

Costs are highest for patients treated with external-beam therapy and lowest for patients treated with watchful waiting. However, several aspects concerning the costs of prostate cancer have not yet been fully evaluated. To date, limited information exists regarding health carecosts for prostate cancer patients in the pre-diagnostic phase of the disease. Knowledge about costs in the last year of life for prostate cancer patients is also sparse; as such studies usually are conducted at an institutional level. Only one population-based study was found that focused on different phases of the disease. Results showed that costs are highest around two events, the cancer diagnosis and cancer death .