Global BulletinAll NewsFDA Approval AlertWomen in Oncology
Expert InterviewsAround the PracticeBetween the LinesFace OffFrom All AnglesMeeting of the MindsOncViewPodcastsTraining AcademyTreatment Algorithms with the Oncology BrothersVideos
Conferences
All JournalsEditorial BoardFor AuthorsYear in Review
Frontline ForumSatellite Sessions
CME/CE
Awareness MonthInteractive ToolsNurse Practitioners/Physician's AssistantsPartnersSponsoredSponsored Media
Career CenterSubscribe
Adverse Effects
Brain Cancer
Breast CancerBreast CancerBreast Cancer
Gastrointestinal CancerGastrointestinal CancerGastrointestinal CancerGastrointestinal CancerGastrointestinal CancerGastrointestinal Cancer
Genitourinary CancersGenitourinary CancersGenitourinary CancersGenitourinary Cancers
Gynecologic CancersGynecologic CancersGynecologic CancersGynecologic Cancers
Head & Neck Cancer
Hematologic OncologyHematologic OncologyHematologic OncologyHematologic Oncology
InfectionInfection
Leukemia
Lung CancerLung CancerLung Cancer
Lymphoma
Neuroendocrine Tumors
Oncology
Pediatric Cancers
Radiation Oncology
Sarcoma
Screening
Skin Cancer & Melanoma
Surgery
Thyroid Cancer
Spotlight -
  • Radiation Oncology
  • Surgery
Adverse Effects
Brain Cancer
Breast CancerBreast CancerBreast Cancer
Gastrointestinal CancerGastrointestinal CancerGastrointestinal CancerGastrointestinal CancerGastrointestinal CancerGastrointestinal Cancer
Genitourinary CancersGenitourinary CancersGenitourinary CancersGenitourinary Cancers
Gynecologic CancersGynecologic CancersGynecologic CancersGynecologic Cancers
Head & Neck Cancer
Hematologic OncologyHematologic OncologyHematologic OncologyHematologic Oncology
InfectionInfection
Leukemia
Lung CancerLung CancerLung Cancer
Lymphoma
Neuroendocrine Tumors
Oncology
Pediatric Cancers
Radiation Oncology
Sarcoma
Screening
Skin Cancer & Melanoma
Surgery
Thyroid Cancer
    • Conferences
    • CME/CE
    • Career Center
    • Subscribe
Advertisement

Lung Malignancies the Leading Cancer-Related Cost in EU

November 15, 2013
By Dave Levitan
Article

Costs associated with cancer care vary widely between countries of the European Union, lung cancer represented the largest cost by individual malignancy, followed by breast and colorectal cancers.

Map of the European Union

Costs associated with cancer care vary widely between countries of the European Union, according to an analysis published in Lancet Oncology. Lung cancer represented the largest cost by individual malignancy, followed by breast and colorectal cancers.

“Cancer imposes a substantial economic burden on society,” wrote researchers led by Ramon Luengo-Fernandez, DPhil, of the Health Economics Research Centre at Oxford University in the United Kingdom. “The delivery of affordable cancer care systems requires public health and policy intelligence to incorporate a comprehensive estimation of the costs of cancer care.” His group evaluated costs across the 27 countries of the European Union in 2008, and included data on health care costs, informal care costs (meaning time lost for unpaid care), and productivity losses (ie, lost earnings after premature death).

They found the total economic cost of cancer in the European Union to be €126 billion in 2009, or $170 billion. The four most populous countries of the European Union, including Germany, France, Italy, and the United Kingdom, accounted for two-thirds of the total costs, and the seven countries with the lowest costs (Bulgaria, Cyprus, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, and Malta) accounted for only 1% of the total.

When broken down, €51 billion ($69 billion) of the total went to direct health care costs; this was 4% of the total EU health care expenditures. There was substantial variation between countries on the specific costs of care: for example, 30% of cancer-related health care costs came from inpatient costs in Slovakia, and 67% was inpatient care in Ireland. Drug costs, which accounted for €13.5 billion ($18.1 billion) and 27% of health care costs, also varied widely from 15% in Lithuania to 61% in Cyprus. Across the European Union, the total cost was equivalent to €102 ($137) per person.

Lung cancer represented the highest overall cost when broken down by specific malignancy, at €18.8 billion ($25.3 billion, 15% of overall total); this was followed by breast cancer, colorectal cancer, and prostate cancer. Lung cancer’s costs came far more heavily from productivity losses than other malignancies, at €9.92 billion ($13.36 billion); that represented almost a quarter of the entire cost of productivity loss from cancer across all cancers.

For comparison, the cost of cancer (excluding informal care and morbidity losses) in the United States in 2008 was estimated at $202 billion (€157 billion). The investigators performed a regression analysis that showed an increase in spending of €1 billion in the European Union would be associated with 640 cancer deaths, though they noted this association was weak and not significant.

The variation between countries within the European Union, the authors wrote, is poorly understood at present. Some can be explained by the individual countries’ gross domestic product or health system configuration, but “we cannot explain all the patterns identified.” Further research, they noted, should attempt to address why the variation exists.

“Our study draws attention to the need for cost-effective public health and screening measures to prevent cancer and improve early detection,” the authors concluded.

Recent Videos
According to Jorge Nieva, MD, there are a multitude of things that can be explored to enhance the treatment landscape for lung cancer.
In a CancerNetwork® YouTube video, Cornelia Tischmacher, a mother of twins from Germany, outlined her receipt of double lung transplantation.
Ongoing ctDNA analysis may elucidate outcomes associated with divarasib plus migoprotafib for those with KRAS G12C–positive NSCLC.
The FirstLook liquid biopsy, when used as an adjunct to low-dose CT, may help to address the unmet need of low lung cancer screening utilization.
Related Content
Advertisement

The MARIPOSA trial revealed promising survival benefits with amivantamab plus lazertinib vs osimertinib for patients with EGFR-mutant lung cancer.

MARIPOSA OS Results Are Significant for EGFR+ NSCLC

ONCOLOGY Staff
July 2nd 2025
Article

The MARIPOSA trial revealed promising survival benefits with amivantamab plus lazertinib vs osimertinib for patients with EGFR-mutant lung cancer.


Georgios Evangelou, MD, MSc, speaks to the potential utility of neoadjuvant capecitabine/temozolomide in well-differentiated atypical carcinoids.

Exploring the Value of Preoperative CAPTEM in Atypical Lung NETs

Georgios Evangelou, MD, MSc
September 16th 2024
Podcast

Georgios Evangelou, MD, MSc, speaks to the potential utility of neoadjuvant capecitabine/temozolomide in well-differentiated atypical carcinoids.


AI transforms non-small cell lung cancer management, enhancing diagnostics, treatment predictions, and personalized care strategies for improved patient outcomes.

The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Enhancing Precision Medicine for NSCLC

Puneet Modgil, MD
June 24th 2025
Article

AI transforms non-small cell lung cancer management, enhancing diagnostics, treatment predictions, and personalized care strategies for improved patient outcomes.


Rian M. Hasson Charles, MD, MPH, FACS, discusses advances in equitable lung cancer screening and her experiences as a woman in thoracic oncology.

Achieving Health Equity in Lung Cancer Surgery

Rian M. Hasson Charles, MD, MPH, FACS
April 1st 2024
Podcast

Rian M. Hasson Charles, MD, MPH, FACS, discusses advances in equitable lung cancer screening and her experiences as a woman in thoracic oncology.


Treatment Options and AE Considerations in First-Line EGFR+ NSCLC

Treatment Options and AE Considerations in First-Line EGFR+ NSCLC

ONCOLOGY Staff
June 20th 2025
Article

Experts discuss shifting preferences in EGFR-mutated NSCLC treatments, highlighting new survival data from the FLAURA2 and MARIPOSA trials shared at ELCC 2025.


Tarlatamab and the ES-SCLC Treatment Landscape: Managing AEs and Educating Patients

Tarlatamab and the ES-SCLC Treatment Landscape: Managing AEs and Educating Patients

ONCOLOGY Staff
June 19th 2025
Article

Experts discuss innovative treatments for extensive-stage small cell lung cancer, highlighting tarlatamab's potential and management of adverse effects.

Related Content
Advertisement

The MARIPOSA trial revealed promising survival benefits with amivantamab plus lazertinib vs osimertinib for patients with EGFR-mutant lung cancer.

MARIPOSA OS Results Are Significant for EGFR+ NSCLC

ONCOLOGY Staff
July 2nd 2025
Article

The MARIPOSA trial revealed promising survival benefits with amivantamab plus lazertinib vs osimertinib for patients with EGFR-mutant lung cancer.


Georgios Evangelou, MD, MSc, speaks to the potential utility of neoadjuvant capecitabine/temozolomide in well-differentiated atypical carcinoids.

Exploring the Value of Preoperative CAPTEM in Atypical Lung NETs

Georgios Evangelou, MD, MSc
September 16th 2024
Podcast

Georgios Evangelou, MD, MSc, speaks to the potential utility of neoadjuvant capecitabine/temozolomide in well-differentiated atypical carcinoids.


AI transforms non-small cell lung cancer management, enhancing diagnostics, treatment predictions, and personalized care strategies for improved patient outcomes.

The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Enhancing Precision Medicine for NSCLC

Puneet Modgil, MD
June 24th 2025
Article

AI transforms non-small cell lung cancer management, enhancing diagnostics, treatment predictions, and personalized care strategies for improved patient outcomes.


Rian M. Hasson Charles, MD, MPH, FACS, discusses advances in equitable lung cancer screening and her experiences as a woman in thoracic oncology.

Achieving Health Equity in Lung Cancer Surgery

Rian M. Hasson Charles, MD, MPH, FACS
April 1st 2024
Podcast

Rian M. Hasson Charles, MD, MPH, FACS, discusses advances in equitable lung cancer screening and her experiences as a woman in thoracic oncology.


Treatment Options and AE Considerations in First-Line EGFR+ NSCLC

Treatment Options and AE Considerations in First-Line EGFR+ NSCLC

ONCOLOGY Staff
June 20th 2025
Article

Experts discuss shifting preferences in EGFR-mutated NSCLC treatments, highlighting new survival data from the FLAURA2 and MARIPOSA trials shared at ELCC 2025.


Tarlatamab and the ES-SCLC Treatment Landscape: Managing AEs and Educating Patients

Tarlatamab and the ES-SCLC Treatment Landscape: Managing AEs and Educating Patients

ONCOLOGY Staff
June 19th 2025
Article

Experts discuss innovative treatments for extensive-stage small cell lung cancer, highlighting tarlatamab's potential and management of adverse effects.

Advertisement
About
Advertise
CureToday.com
OncLive.com
OncNursingNews.com
TargetedOnc.com
Editorial
Contact
Terms and Conditions
Privacy
Do Not Sell My Personal Information
Contact Info

2 Commerce Drive
Cranbury, NJ 08512

609-716-7777

© 2025 MJH Life Sciences

All rights reserved.