The key to treating any cancer successfully is being consistent with your regimen. This is especially true when it comes to breast cancer, as the condition can progress more quickly than other forms of cancer. Unfortunately, breast cancer treatment costs can be overwhelming for those who don’t have insurance coverage. If you know where to look, though, you can tap into certain resources that can help.
How Much Treatment Can Cost
The cost of treating breast cancer can vary widely depending on several factors, including the type of treatment you need and the stage of your cancer. For example, treating someone who’s been diagnosed with stage 1 cancer may cost over $82,000 for treatment within the first year of diagnosis, while someone who’s at stage 4 could spend as much as $135,000 over the same period.
One contributor to these costs is the medication you have to take. Chemotherapy can cost as much as $18,000 per month, while targeted drug therapy and drugs for metastatic cancer can cost up to $14,000 and $5,000, respectively, every month. If you also need hormone replacement therapy, you could spend up to $90 per month for that, too.
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The numbers are just as scary if you need surgical procedures like a lumpectomy or mastectomy. The first can cost you between $4,000 and $10,000, while the second comes in at about $13,000.
Of course, those numbers don’t even take into account that you might need additional tests during treatment or care from other specialists like physical therapists and counselors.
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How To Afford Your Treatment
The first thing you should know is that it might be possible for you to get insurance coverage that you can afford. There are government-based programs that can provide you with health insurance and also subsidize the premiums. If this isn’t an option for you, then you can start by talking to your doctor about any financial assistance programs they might recommend. They may also have samples of medications that you were prescribed. You can also save money by opting for generic drugs instead of the branded ones.
When discussing your treatment plan, you should check if any of the drug manufacturers provide discount cards or have a financial aid program in place for those who need it. Some persons, like those who have a disability, are in the military, or are in a particular income bracket, may get special consideration as well.
Finally, you should talk to your doctor about being enrolled in a clinical trial. Many of these trials or either free or heavily subsidized. They also give you access to new treatment options and can be helpful for persons who have advanced breast cancer or aggressive forms of cancer like triple-negative breast cancer.
If you get treatment at specific health centers, it can be helpful to ask if they have a financial assistance program. Alternatively, you can check if there are government-funded facilities that offer the same service at a lower cost. Sometimes, your doctor may ask you to take genomic or genetic tests that help to determine your course of treatment. Since these can also be expensive, it’s good to check if the labs that do these tests offer financial aid.
Other Costs You Need To Think About
While the costs of treatment can be enough to give you pause, those aren’t the only ones you need to add to your budget. It’s important to consider the additional costs of transportation when you need to go to treatment, childcare, take care of your home, and get the food you need. Fortunately, there are also financial assistance programs that may be able to help you with costs that are related to breast cancer treatment, but aren’t limited to the treatments themselves. It’s also important to note that there are government and private organizations that provide grants to help with temporary housing for those who need to be closer to their treatment facilities.
It’s stressful enough to be dealing with breast cancer. The last thing you need is the constant worry of how to afford treatment and some of the other costs that can come with undergoing treatment. Fortunately, you have a few options to choose from when it comes to financial assistance, so it’s important to look into them as soon as possible.
