What it is costing patients
Here are some of the costs associated with the treatment of breast cancer. The costs were provided by senior medical personnel:
Average costs to make a diagnosis of breast cancer in one breast:
• General practitioner – $3,500 • Surgical consultation – $8,000-$10,000 • Mammogram + ultrasound – $9,400-$16,000 • Biopsies – $25,000-$44,000 • Pathology – $12,000-$25,000
Average costs after a breast cancer diagnosis for preliminary staging (before surgery):
• Chest X-ray – $5,000-$8,000 • Abdominal/pelvic ultrasound – $9,000-$18,000 • Chest/abdominal/pelvic scan – $45,000-$102,000 • Blood tests – $16,000-$25,000
Average costs for surgical procedures, hospitalisation, and labs:
• Lump removal with lymph nodes (lumpectomy) – $175,000 • Hospital fees for lumpectomy – $80,000-$100,000 • Removal of breast, inclusive of assistant doctors and hospital fees – $650,000 • Plastic (reconstructive) tram flap surgery – $400,000 • Plastic (reconstructive) surgery using prosthesis (two procedures for $254,000 each) plus $150,000 for prosthesis and tissue expander – $508,000 • Pathology – $25,000 • Hormone receptor test for targeted treatment – $24,000
• Hospital cost for reconstructive surgery – $150,000-$300,000
Total costs for an early diagnosis to surgery:
• $411,000-$550,000 without chemotherapy or radiation Total costs for a late diagnosis to surgery: • Without reconstructive surgery – $833,000$950,000 • With tram flap reconstructive surgery – $1,233,000-$1,350,000 • With prosthetic reconstructive surgery – $1,426,000-$1,543,000
Average additional costs after surgery:
• Chemotherapy (total of four treatments) – $225,200 • Specialised chemotherapy (herceptin) – $5,950,000 per year • Radiation (total) treatment – $2,000,000 These treatments are available in the public hospitals free of cost but because of the demand to access these services, there are extended delays to access them. The Jamaica Cancer Society offers its customers mammography screening at a subsidised cost of $3,800. Those customers requiring further evaluation have access to private consultation with general surgeons at the society’s Breast Clinic at a contribution of $1,500. The Cancer Society also offers its customers small grants to access cancer treatments. The National Health Fund also provides the public with discounts through their Drug Serv facility to access expensive cancer drugs.