So far, we have written articles introducing cancer treatment in Japan, but this time we are researching and summarizing treatment methods in the United States.
Let us see if there are any differences between the treatment methods in Japan and the rest of the world.
Surgery
The surgeon removes the cancer and surrounding healthy tissue.
For some types of cancer, surgery may be the only cure.
Surgery is sometimes combined with other treatments in the United States as well.
The cost of undergoing cancer surgery in the United States varies widely depending on many factors. The main influencing factors are summarized below.
Type of surgery
The cost of surgery varies greatly depending on the type of surgery. For example, complex reconstructive surgery is more expensive than simple excisional surgery.
The duration of the surgery depends on the patient’s condition and the complexity of the surgery, which will affect the cost.
Hospital Location
The cost of medical care in the United States varies widely from region to region. In general, costs are higher in large cities than in rural areas.
Costs also vary depending on the size and specialty of the hospital. Well-known university hospitals and specialty hospitals are generally more expensive than regional hospitals.
Complications
Complications during surgery may require additional treatment and significantly increase costs.
Insurance
Most Americans have private medical insurance.
Depending on the type and scope of medical insurance, surgical coverage and co-payments may vary.
If you have public health insurance such as Medicare or Medicaid, coverage is limited.
Co-payments
Co-payments are the portion of medical expenses not paid by the insurance company.
Co-payments can range from a few thousand dollars to tens of thousands of dollars.
Other.
The cost of tests, medications, and physical therapy are also included in the overall cost of the surgery.
Depending on where the patient lives, travel and lodging expenses may also need to be considered.
The following are examples of costs for cancer surgery in the U.S.
Mastectomy: $19,000 to $56,000 (approximately 2.85 to 8.4 million Japanese yen)
Colon resection: $33,000 to $77,000 (approximately 495,000 to 11,550,000 Japanese yen)
Lung cancer surgery: $18,000 to $92,000 (about 2.7 to 13.8 million Japanese yen)
Please note that the above are examples only and actual costs may vary widely.
Tips for saving money: 1.
Obtain estimates from several hospitals before undergoing surgery.
Seek a second opinion.
Compare medical insurance plans and select the most comprehensive plan.
Find out about available public assistance programs.
Budget and save for medical expenses before surgery.
Radiation Therapy
Uses high-energy X-rays or radiation to kill cancer cells.
Radiation therapy can be given outside the body or in brachytherapy, in which a small radioactive material is inserted into the body.
Radiation therapy may be given before or after surgery or in combination with chemotherapy or hormone therapy.
The cost of radiation therapy for cancer in the United States varies widely depending on a number of factors. The main influencing factors are summarized below.
Types of Radiation Therapy
There are two types of radiation therapy: external and sealed.
External irradiation uses high-energy X-rays or gamma rays as the radiation source from a machine located outside the body.
Sealed irradiation is performed by inserting a radioactive material into the body or implanting it directly into the affected area.
Costs vary widely depending on the type of treatment. In general, sealed irradiation is more expensive than external irradiation.
Duration of Treatment
The duration of radiation therapy depends on the patient’s condition and the type of cancer.
The longer the treatment period, the higher the cost.
Irradiation range
The larger the irradiated area, the longer the treatment takes and the higher the cost.
Hospital Location
The cost of medical care in the U.S. varies widely by region. In general, costs are higher in large cities than in rural areas.
Costs also vary depending on the size and specialty of the hospital. Well-known university hospitals and specialty hospitals are generally more expensive than community hospitals.
Insurance:.
Most Americans have private health insurance.
Depending on the type and scope of medical insurance, coverage and co-payments for radiation therapy may vary.
If you have public health insurance such as Medicare or Medicaid, coverage is limited.
Co-pay:.
Co-payments are the portion of medical expenses not paid by the insurance company.
Co-pays can range from a few thousand dollars to tens of thousands of dollars.
Other:.
The cost of tests, medications, physical therapy, etc. are also included in the overall cost of radiation therapy.
Depending on where the patient lives, travel and lodging expenses may also need to be considered.
Below are some examples of costs for cancer radiation therapy in the U.S.
External radiation for prostate cancer: $5,000 to $30,000 (about 750-450,000 Japanese yen)
External radiation for breast cancer: $7,000 to $33,000 (about 1.05 to 4.95 million Japanese yen)
Sealed irradiation for brain tumor: $19,000 to $51,000 (about 2.85 to 7.65 million Japanese yen)
Please understand that the above are examples only and actual costs may vary greatly.
Tips for saving money: 1.
Obtain estimates from several hospitals before undergoing treatment.
Seek a second opinion.
Compare medical insurance plans and select the most comprehensive plan.
Research available public assistance programs.
Budget and save for medical expenses before treatment.
Summary
I have researched and summarized regarding surgery and radiotherapy for cancer in the United States.
As for surgery and radiotherapy, I learned that it is done all over the world.
The difference between the U.S. and Japan is that the fees vary from state to state. ←This is unthinkable in Japan.
Also, if the fees vary depending on the size of the hospital, a second opinion is likely to be essential.
By learning about the different situation from Japan, you will be able to see what is better than Japan and what is good about Japan,
However, it is important not to misunderstand that not everything in Japan is better than in the U.S., and not everything in the U.S. is better than in Japan.
