OBJECTIVETo evaluate the standard treatment cost of female breast cancer at different tumor node metastasis (TNM) stages.

METHODSExtracting previous data, calculating by clinical pathway, face-to-face interviewing, and telephone interviewing were adopted to estimate the treatment cost of female breast cancer. The cost was consisted of direct medical expenditure, direct non-medical expenditure, and indirect expenditure.

RESULTSThe direct medical expenditure was extracted from medical record and expense statement of 316 breast cancer cases in Sichuan Cancer Hospital. The direct non-medical expenditure was investigated from 211 patients and their relatives. The indirect expenditure was surveyed from 181 cases who received surgery more than one year ago. The average treatment cost of female breast cancer was ¥160 457 ($23 702), which was adjusted by the proportions of ER, PR, and menses status, and the willingness of patients. The treatment cost (including the outpatient cost for 5 years after surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy) of TNM 0 stage, TNM I stage, TNM II stage, TNM III stage, and TNM IV stage were ¥37 941, ¥122 622, ¥159 594, ¥215 014, and ¥214 229, respectively. The patients with early stage breast cancer payed considerably lower treatment cost than those at advanced stage.

CONCLUSIONEarly detection and treatment of breast cancer may have a real economic significance for reducing the burden of disease.