Increased healthcare costs by later stage cancer diagnosis.
November McGarveyMatthew GitlinEla FadliKaren C ChungPublished in: BMC health services research (2022)
Mean annual and cumulative healthcare costs through year four post cancer diagnosis were significantly higher among those diagnosed at later versus earlier cancer stages. The steeper increase in cumulative costs among those diagnosed in stage IV for many cancer types highlights the importance of earlier cancer diagnosis. Earlier cancer diagnosis may enable more efficient treatment, improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs.