[CITATION][C] Will evidence ever be sufficient to resolve the challenge of cost containment?

AL Caplan - Journal of Clinical Oncology, 2011 - ascopubs.org
Journal of Clinical Oncology, 2011ascopubs.org
The fact that both new forms of diagnostic testing and emerging therapies are expensive and
becoming more so is well-known within the world of cancer care and insurance in the United
States. 1 The cost for the treatment of cancer in the United States has at least doubled since
1987, 2, 3 and outlays for cancer drugs exceeded 20 billion dollars in 2009. 4 Many other
nations are struggling with the escalating cost of cancer care as well. There is no reason to
presume that the cost of care for cancer will decline in the coming decade. Efforts at cancer …
The fact that both new forms of diagnostic testing and emerging therapies are expensive and becoming more so is well-known within the world of cancer care and insurance in the United States. 1 The cost for the treatment of cancer in the United States has at least doubled since 1987, 2, 3 and outlays for cancer drugs exceeded 20 billion dollars in 2009. 4 Many other nations are struggling with the escalating cost of cancer care as well.
There is no reason to presume that the cost of care for cancer will decline in the coming decade. Efforts at cancer prevention are not the primary focus of the American public or economic policy, the obesity epidemic continues to grow, 5 the population continues to age, new genomic tests will soon be available to assess cancer risk, and funds for more research for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer continue to flow, 6 promising the possibilities of benefit or even breakthroughs but no relief from rising costs.
ASCO Publications