Government Spending on Breast Cancer Treatment
New U.S. cases of breast cancer have increased about 1 percent per year since 1940. The total costs of pain and suffering for individuals and their families affected by breast cancer can't be given a price tag, but total U.S. government investment in treating and researching treatments for breast cancer is in the billions.
Hospital Costs
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services data show that total U.S. hospital expenses for breast cancer treatment were $1.6 billion in 2003. A major share of the costs is borne by public health programs such as Medicare and Medicaid.
Breast Cancer Prevalence
The American Cancer Society projected that there would be about 192,000 new cases of breast cancer in women in 2009. Though much less prevalent, breast cancer can also strike men. Worldwide, some 1.3 million new cases of breast cancer were projected in 2007.
Financial Costs of Treatment
According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer accounted for $3.2 billion in Medicare fee-for-service cancer payments in 2006. Medicaid, a state-managed public health insurance program for low-income people, also picks up a large share of the treatment costs.
Research Funding
Growing awareness both nationally and globally of breast cancer has led to substantial government investments in research and screening. The National Cancer Institute was founded in 1971 to research cancer, and its initial appropriation for breast cancer research was $6.7 million. In 2009, the NCI's total spending on breast cancer was $572 million.
Funding for Screening
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention receives a $202 million annual appropriation for breast and cervical cancer screening.
Tags: breast cancer, cases breast, cases breast cancer, American Cancer, American Cancer Society
