2Department of Medical Oncology, Ankara Bilkent City Hospital, Ankara-Türkiye
3Department of Medical Pathology, Gazi University, Ankara-Türkiy
4Department of Medical Oncology, Medipol HealthCare Group, İstanbul-Türkiye
5Department of Medical Oncology, Memorial HealthCare Group, Ankara-Türkiye
6Department of Medical Oncology, Medical Park HealthCare Group, İstanbul-Türkiye
7Department of Medical Oncology, Acıbadem Healthcare Group, İzmir-Türkiye
8Department of Medical Oncology, University of Health Sciences, Gülhane Training and Research Hospital, Ankara-Türki
9Department of Medical Oncology, Etlik City Hospital, Ankara-Türkiye
10Department of Medical Oncology, Bilkent City Hospital, Ankara-Türkiye
11Daiichi Sankyo Pharmaceutical Trading Limited Company, İstanbul-Türkiye DOI : 10.5505/tjo.2024.4347 OBJECTIVE
To determine the economic burden of breast cancer in Türkiye.
METHODS
In this cost-of-illness study, per-patient annual direct and indirect medical costs for the management of
breast cancer (in newly diagnosed and former patients and in metastatic and non-metastatic disease)
were determined based on epidemiological, clinical, and lost productivity inputs provided by a Delphi
panel consisting of oncology, general surgery, and pathology experts.
RESULTS
The mean annual cost per patient for newly diagnosed breast cancer was $21,595.62 for metastatic patients
and $4,490.76 for non-metastatic patients. The total annual direct cost of new and former patients was
$222,514,612.10. Non-medical costs included transportation, caregiving, and the need for palliative care.
The non-medical direct cost for new patients and follow-up patients was $18,917,841.62 and $2,195,169.61,
respectively. The total non-medical direct cost of newly and previously diagnosed patients with breast cancer
was $21,113,011.23. While the indirect costs for the newly diagnosed patients amounted to $815,199,359.02,
the indirect cost for the previously diagnosed breast cancer patients was $169,767,030.43. The total indirect
cost was $982,867,753.58. The economic burden of breast cancer was $1,230,416,060.71 in Türkiye.
CONCLUSION
This cost-of-illness study indicates that breast cancer poses a significant economic burden for Türkiye. A
large share of indirect costs in total costs can provide important guidance to decision-makers in the healthcare
system to better allocate limited resources to breast cancer prevention and early detection strategies.