Cost of Cancer

My MRI cost approx $5300.00.  Each time I see a Dr. it is a $50,00 co pay. 

I nearly passed out when I got my first chemo bill for the first two rounds.  $55,000.00.  My first radiation treatment (set up, tattoos, etc) was $13,000.00.  Yipes!!!!  Thank goodness for good health insurance.

For my 2006 2cm IDC, Stage 1, Grade 1, 0/3 nodes, ER+PR+ HER2- cancer the billed charge was $34,700. That was just for the biopsies/surgery. I did not have radiation or any other ancillary treatments. 

In 2007, I had an abnormal mammogram on the other breast. Which proceeded from a stereotactic biopsy, to an MRI, to an excisional biopsy. All negative. Total cost for that, $25,000.

In 2008, an off year! Just the $500 cost of the mammos.

In 2009, another bad mammo/bad MRI on the X-Cancer breast. Resulting in an U/S guided biopsy. All negative. Total cost of that, $14,800. And they actually wanted to do another MRI-guided biopsy, not believing the pathology reports, but I prevailed, in the end. And didn't have it. That would have been probably another $8,000. 

As a CPA, I'm just wondering what is going to happen when President Obama institutes his Universal Health Care. This is just not sustainable.  

Is that much going to be saved with the electronic medical records? I don't think so.

There's only so many MRI machines and techs and docs to read them. When you add $47,000,000 million people to the health care insurance, under Obama's plan, 1/2 of them, women, what happens then?  

The answer is that we'll just all be getting, less treatments. 

Wow what variation.  I had a BLM and stayed in the hospital for two nights, ~43,000.00, BS ~ 7000.00, PS ~ 9000.00, .  My core biopsy was ~5,000.00.  I'm having my exchange and a hyster/ooph on Monday and expect to be in the hospital for about 3-4 nights.  Can't imagine what that bill will be.  It is really crazy, we need to scrap the whole system and start over.  I had a friend who became ill in France and spent two days in the hospital, had a ton of tests, and left with medicine.  When he was being discharged he asked for the bill and they said no charge, as an American he nearly fell over.  I don't want to get into a debate about where it is better and tax rates, etc., but it is clear our system isn't working, people shouldn't lose their houses because they have cancer, nor should people have to race back to work during treatment in fear of losing their jobs.  It is uncivilized in my opinion that money gets in the way of treatment for some and others are driven to bankruptcy.

Best,

Karen

KEW

Sentinel Lymph node biopsy - $5,500.00

Mammogram $400.00

Breast MRI - $4,000.00

Chest X-rays $151.00

Ultrasound/biopsy - $2300.00

Chemo - each treatment $16,000  - estimated cost (8 treatments total)

Emend  - each $300.00 (4 prescriptions total)

Neulasta Shots - each $3,000.00 (Estimated - could be $6K - can't remember)

I haven't even had surgery, radiation or reconstruction and I am already up to $89,551.00 not including all of my other prescriptions that I have to take.

Fortunately I have great insurance so I only pay $30 for each chemo treatment, $22 for the Emend, I don't have to pay for the Neulasta Shots.  My co-pay for MRI's is $100   My sentinel lymph node biopsy was a $300 co-pay.

When I have my surgery my bill will be around $300 for the co-pay.  I don't know about radiation but if I have to pay $30 for each visit then I will be out $750.  I am not sure what my reconstruction cost is going to be yet. 

It is just mind boggling, isn't it?????

Let me tell you my story:  I found my lump in my breast in 2001.  I didn't have any insurance and didn't have the money for all of the above costs.  Yes, maybe I could have swung it for the mammogram and MAYBE a biopsy.  But what was the use of doing that if I couldn't afford the first treatment, no less all the rest!!!!!  So I let it go for SEVEN years!!!!  The tumor grew larger and larger, and then broke through the skin with a very large, open sore.  I had to do something and I was sure I would die very soon.

I went to the county health department, as I had heard they give free mammograms, etc.

They did get me into a program for women with breast and cervical cancer.  This was in June of 2008!  By this time, the tumor was about 10cm in size, spread to my underarm and lymph nodes, and coming through the skin.

I have no idea what the total cost of all this was.  But I feel sorry for all the women out there who do not know about this program.  I wish I could shout it from the roof tops!  There is help out there. 

nelia48--Wow, I am so sorry that you had to go through that experience.  I hope that you are receiving great care now.  I think it is criminal that anyone in this country has to think twice about going to the doctor because of money.  It is not a very positive way to care for one's fellow citizens. The lack of equity in health care (and education)  I think, are some of the greatest failings in our country. I hope that will change over time.  I'm grateful for my insurance, I have good insurance, I work for a medical university, nonetheless, I still had to take all the equity out of my car to pay bills.  By the time I've paid that  car off, I will have paid on my 2004 Toyota Corolla (I bought it new) for 9 1/2 years. 

Karen

Yep, this is all criminal!  My Neulsasta shot was $6500 too, my chemos were $17,000, etc.  I work for our public school system here in North Carolina and am covered under the state employee insurance plan, but our state health plan is going broke and our deductible is going to double from $300 to $600 per person--  plus we are getting our salaries cut in order to bail out the State Government!  Breast cancer is depressing enough, without this mess!  I am very thankful to have a job and to have at least some kind of health insurance, but I feel that I am swimming upstream in trying to get ahead and pay off my medical bills.  And I realize I am not the only one-- I just hope our new administration can do something to help us!

One thing I would love to know is this: does a doctor get a monetary "kick-back" for ordering imaging tests, such as CT, PET, bone scans, MRIs, etc.?  I am asking this because during my treatments, my doctor told me I wouldn't need any more scans unless I had symptoms, and then all of sudden at my post-tx visit when I had no symptoms, he up and says "we need to get you some more scans", which I refused, because I didn't want the stress and really don't think my insurance would have covered it anyway.  Makes me wonder if the cancer center and imaging center are feeling the effects of the bad economy and needed some more revenue...????  As you can tell, I'm not a very trusting person at times...

BlueWillow:  the doctors and hospitals do not get kickbacks.  There is an anti-kickback law that makes it illegal for the doctors to get compensation for doing test, etc.   I have worked in the medical field for 15 years is the reason I know this.

Thanks for the info roseinwinter  I was not aware of that.  Just go to show that you learn something new EVERY day.

I don't think I understand why this "belongs" on the alternative thread.  That is about non-traditional treatments.  Most of the women here have IDC, this is the IDC forum, even if they have a different type of  bc they still have/had it,  and the reality of bc is the cost of treatment. 

Karen 

After reading the posts above, I feel rather sheepish about posting what I've paid for treatments. I have Kaiser Permanente HMO. I would estimate (and I'm going to total my receipts one of these days) that I've paid less than $5,000 in copayments, total, for: multiple mammograms, biopsy, axillary node dissection, bilateral mastectomy, chemo port placement, genetic counseling and BRCA testing; three mastectomy bras and bilateral protheses; six rounds of TAC chemotherapy with all the best complementary drugs, including Neupogen; lab work; six weeks of radiation; two CT scans, a 3-phase liver study, and a full-body bone scan; chemo port removal; treatment for a staph infection; oophorectomy; EKG; tamoxifen; zometa infusions; port flushings; and all of the doctor visits that went with a year's worth of treatment. And not only was the price right, but 95% of the doctors, nurses, and technicians I had dealings with were absolutely wonderful, caring, well-trained professionals. My health insurance is completely paid for by my employer. I pay a $15 copayment for doctor visits, surgeries, and some procedures; prescription copayments are usually $5, but a few times I've paid $15. Believe me, it isn't lost on me that I'm very fortunate to have had access to the quality of care I've received.

Celtic Spirit-- I was a Kaiser user for more than 20 years and had both my kids while there.  It cost me 16.00 and 24.00 to have my children!

Blue Willow--since my diagnosis in October I know five other women who've been diagnosed, it is creepy.

Off to do chores as well.

Have a great weekend ladies!

Karen

Hiya,

Belinda Stronach is the daughter of the Frank Stronach who runs Magna (ie rich rich rich)...yes she was a member of Parliament for a couple of years.  When she was diagnosed, she wanted immediate reconstruction, IMMEDIATELY,so she could continue acting in Parliament,  and so she was not willing to wait one tiny bit.  That's why she went South to LA for treatment.  Canadians have that option, though it's hard to pull off, because your costs are so much higher down there and we have to prove we cannot get the same treatment here in a timely manner.  I have a friend needing laparascopic surgery, and she is making arrangements now to have the thing done sooner in Michigan.  Do not think though that our system is so crummy or our physicians so hard-done by financially. It's sad that their payments are controlled, but the upside is that you don't have these wide variations in costs of procedures. Though we do lose practitioners to the States, we do have some upsides and for example, my DIEP surgeon moved from Sloan Kettering to Toronto to be at Princess Margaret...something we have going for us here is that we're not so litigious as they are in the states...Your physicians have to charge more to cover their astronomical malpractice insurance premiums which raises costs too. Everyone in my personal circle (5 friends/family/myself) who had cancer DX were into the best places for surgery, with choices of surgeons, within two weeks. There is zero discussion of who pays for what.  If it happens in a hospital, the gov't pays.  It's good to not have that financial pressure to consider, or wonder whether the best surgeon will take our insurance.  If you're not in a major centre, it's more difficult, but I think the same is true anywhere.  Our GP just recommends the best, (or the closest, or whatever) and if we can get there, we can have the best of the best.  Sometimes it's a wait for non-emergency surgeries, and we're working on reducing wait-times, but I think it's a good system. If we can't look after our own, in terms of basics like health care, I think it's a sad reflection on our basic humanity.  Your system is VERY complex right now, and it will be very hard to make changes, but it sounds like some good things are happening.  I just think it's incredibly sad that poor women have to have the additional stress of finding their way to treatment when they don't have coverage.  Now if we could just get national health coverage for EVERYONE for drugs...we'd be on our way!

I don't want to get into a political discussion, but we already have "socialized" medicine.  Medicare, and it did very well by my Mom when she was so sick. Over 9 months of surgeries and hospitalizations. Home health care, etc. 

There are limits, but those are in every insurance company. 

I'll find out soon. I start on Medicare in June.