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First-year costs of treating prostate cancer: estimates from SEER-Medicare data

Prostate Cancer and Prostatic Diseases volume 12, pages 355–360 (2009)Cite this article

Abstract

Pharmacologic therapies are currently being evaluated for the prevention of prostate cancer (PCa). As additional clinical data become available regarding their benefits and risks, an examination of their economic impact will also be important. The purpose of this study was to estimate mean per patient PCa-related costs during the first year following diagnosis and to examine the extent to which initial therapies are used, by initial cancer stage. Our data show that health-care costs were significant and varied by stage. With average first-year PCa-related costs of US$13 091, prevention strategies have the potential to reduce health-care costs.

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Acknowledgements

This study used the linked SEER-Medicare database. The interpretation and reporting of these data are the sole responsibility of the authors. The authors acknowledge the efforts of the Applied Research Program, National Cancer Institute; the Office of Research, Development and Information, CMS; Information Management Services, Inc.; and the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program tumor registries in the creation of the SEER-Medicare database. Research funding was provided by GlaxoSmithKline Inc.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Urology, UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas, TX, USA

    C G Roehrborn

  2. Department of Surgery (Urology), UConn Health Center, Farmington, CT, USA

    P Albertsen

  3. United BioSource Corporation, Montréal, Québec, Canada

    M E Stokes

  4. Global Health Outcomes, GSK, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA

    L Black

  5. United BioSource Corporation, Budapest, Hungary

    A Benedict

Authors
  1. C G Roehrborn
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  2. P Albertsen
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  3. M E Stokes
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  4. L Black
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  5. A Benedict
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to M E Stokes.

Additional information

Parts of this research were presented at American Urological Association Annual Meeting, 17–22 May 2008, Orlando, FL, USA.

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Roehrborn, C., Albertsen, P., Stokes, M. et al. First-year costs of treating prostate cancer: estimates from SEER-Medicare data. Prostate Cancer Prostatic Dis 12, 355–360 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/pcan.2009.21

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/pcan.2009.21

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