According to a recent study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cancer survivors face significant economic burdens due to growing medical costs, missed work and reduced productivity.
For the study, researchers analyzed data from the Agency of Healthcare Research and Quality's 2008 to 2011 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey to estimate annual medical costs and productivity losses among cancer patients.
The study found male cancer survivors had annual medical costs of more than $8,000 and productivity losses of $3,700. Female cancer survivors had $8,400 in annual medical costs and $4,000 in productivity losses.
Of the cancer survivors' total medical costs, the study found male cancer survivors spend $1,722 annually on inpatient care, and female cancer survivors spend $1,843 annually on inpatient care.
The study also found male and female cancer survivors spend more than $1,300 on prescription medication each year.
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