The previous and previous articles summarize the treatment in the United States.
If you have not yet seen that one, I hope you will take a look at that one as well.
In this article, we examine and summarize immunotherapy and targeted therapy in the United States.
Immunotherapy in the United States
A treatment that helps the immune system fight cancer cells.
Immunotherapies include checkpoint inhibitors, CAR-T cell therapy, and vaccine therapy.
Immunotherapy is often combined with other therapies.
Types of Therapy
There are various types of immunotherapy, each with different costs. Commonly used immunotherapies include the following
Checkpoint inhibitors: PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors, CTLA-4 inhibitors, etc.
CAR-T cell therapy: T cells are harvested from the patient, genetically modified to attack cancer cells, and returned to the body.
Vaccine therapy: Vaccines that train the immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells
Duration of Treatment
The duration of immunotherapy depends on the patient’s condition and the type of cancer. Generally, immunotherapy is continued for several months to several years. The longer the treatment period, the higher the cost.
Types of Medications
The cost of immunotherapy varies greatly depending on the type of immunotherapy used. For example, checkpoint inhibitors are very expensive and can cost millions of dollars per year.
Dosing Methods
Immunotherapy is administered in a variety of ways, including intravenous infusion, oral administration, or vaccination. Costs vary depending on the method of administration. Typically, intravenous infusions are the most expensive.
Hospital Location
The cost of health care in the United States varies widely by region. In general, costs are higher in large cities than in rural areas. In addition, well-known university hospitals and specialty hospitals may be more expensive than regional hospitals.
Insurance
Most Americans have private medical insurance. However, the type and extent of medical insurance coverage will depend on the immunotherapy coverage and co-payments. For those with public health insurance, Medicare or Medicaid, coverage is even more 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 testing, other medications, and supportive care is also included in the overall cost of immunotherapy.
Depending on where the patient lives, travel and lodging expenses may also need to be considered.
Example of costs: The following is an example of costs associated with receiving cancer immunotherapy in the United States.
Below is a sample cost for cancer immunotherapy in the United States. Please note that this is only a guideline and actual costs may vary significantly.
Pembrolizumab for melanoma: $150,000 to $500,000 per year
Nivolumab for lung cancer: $100,000 to $300,000 per year
Kymriah for leukemia: $470,000 per dose
Tips to save money: 1.
Get quotes from several hospitals before getting treatment.
Participate in clinical trials.
Compare medical insurance plans and select the most comprehensive plan.
Research available public assistance programs.
Budget and save for medical expenses before treatment.
Targeted Therapy in the United States
These are drugs that target specific abnormalities in cancer cells.
Targeted therapies may be more effective and have fewer side effects than other treatments.
Targeted therapies are not effective for all types of cancer.
Types of Therapies
There are various types of targeted therapies, each with different costs. Commonly used targeted therapies include the following
Tyrosine kinase inhibitors: drugs that block the function of specific proteins that promote tumor cell growth
Angiogenesis inhibitors: drugs that cut off the blood supply to the tumor
Hormone therapy: drugs that inhibit the growth of hormone-sensitive cancer cells
Duration of Therapy
The duration of targeted therapy depends on the patient’s condition and the type of cancer. Typically, targeted therapy lasts from several months to several years. The longer the treatment period, the higher the cost.
Types of Medications
Costs vary widely depending on the type of targeted therapy used. For example, expensive tyrosine kinase inhibitors such as erbituximab and bevacilomab can cost millions of dollars per year.
Dosing Methods
Targeted therapies are administered intravenously, orally, or in capsules. Costs vary depending on the method of administration. Typically, intravenous infusions are the most expensive.
Hospital Location
The cost of health care in the United States varies widely by region. In general, costs are higher in large cities than in rural areas. In addition, well-known university hospitals and specialty hospitals may be more expensive than regional hospitals.
Insurance
Most Americans have private medical insurance. However, the type and extent of medical insurance coverage varies, as do coverage and co-payments for targeted therapies. For those with public health insurance, Medicare or Medicaid, coverage is even more 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 testing, other medications, and supportive care is also included in the overall cost of targeted therapy.
Depending on where the patient lives, travel and lodging expenses may also need to be considered.
Example of Costs: The following are examples of costs associated with receiving targeted therapy in the United States.
Below is a sample cost for receiving targeted cancer therapy in the United States. Please note that this is only a guideline and actual costs may vary significantly.
Erbituximab for lung cancer: $150,000 to $500,000 per year
Trastuzumab for breast cancer: $100,000 to $300,000 per year
Imatinib for melanoma: $100,000 to $200,000 per year
Tips to save money: 1.
Get quotes from several hospitals before getting treatment.
Consider using generic drugs.
Participate in clinical trials.
Compare health plans and select the most comprehensive plan.
Explore available public assistance programs.
Budget and save for medical expenses before treatment.
Clinical Trials
You may also consider participating in a clinical trial to study a new cancer treatment. Clinical trials are studies that test new treatments to determine if they are safe and effective for patients. Participation in a clinical trial offers the opportunity to receive a new treatment that may benefit patients, but it also carries risks. It is important to discuss the potential benefits and risks with your physician before participating in a clinical trial.
Types of Clinical Trials
There are two main types of clinical trials
Clinical Trials: are conducted to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a new drug or treatment.
Observational studies: Investigate a group of patients with a particular type of cancer to better understand the course of their disease, their response to treatment, and their quality of life.
Benefits of Participating in Clinical Trials
Opportunity to test the latest treatments that are not yet generally available.
You can contribute to future advances in cancer treatment.
Interact and share experiences with other patients.
Regular checkups and consultations allow you to learn more about your condition.
Risks of Participating in Clinical Trials:.
All clinical trials involve risks. Common risks include
Side effects: New therapies are not yet well-studied and may have unexpected side effects in addition to the known side effects.
Ineffectiveness: Not all clinical trials are successful, and a new treatment may not work for you.
Time and cost commitment: Participation in clinical trials can be time-consuming and expensive, requiring frequent visits to the hospital and laboratory tests.
Eligibility for Clinical Trials.
Eligibility to participate in clinical trials varies from trial to trial. In general, participants must meet the following criteria
Have a specific type of cancer
Be over a certain age
Be in adequate physical condition
Have sufficient language skills to understand the clinical trial
How to find clinical trials:.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) website has information on clinical trials: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/
You can also consult your doctor.
Support groups for cancer patients can also provide information on clinical trials.
Summary
Cancer treatment in the U.S. does not differ greatly from that in Japan, with “surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy” being the mainstays, and immunotherapy has made progress in recent years.
The development of new drugs is more active in the U.S. than in Japan, and more clinical trials are being conducted than in Japan.
It is not known if it is effective for all cancers because it is still in the clinical trial stage.
The results of our research indicate that there are more treatment options in the U.S. than in Japan.
I would like to summarize this information in a different way for those who would like to know more about overseas information.
