[Radical prostatectomy for men aged <56 years with prostate cancer. Cost of illness analysis]

Prostate cancer is the most frequent malignant tumor in men; 10% of the patients are younger than 56 years at the time of diagnosis and are usually still working. The aim of this study was to evaluate the costs of the disease within the first 3 years from diagnosis.

A total of 200 patients (aged <56 years) after radical prostatectomy with curative intent were asked for their social status, professional training and job before and after radical prostatectomy, disablement, length of hospital stay, rehabilitation, early retirement, part-time retirement, retraining program, job-creating measures, and working conditions after radical prostatectomy.

Of the 200 patients queried, 177 (88.5%) answered the questionnaire. Prior to the radical prostatectomy 163 patients were employed. They were off work for a mean time of 104.4 days, 83.4% of them received inpatient rehabilitation treatment after surgery, 121 (74.2%) regained full fitness for work, 9 (5.5%) retired on grounds of age, 21 (12.9%) had an early retirement because of the disease, and 12 (7.4%) became unemployed. Within the first 3 years after diagnosis, the following mean costs had to be paid: 465.79 by the patient, 6569.76 by the employer, 16,356.96 by the health insurance, 13,304.88 by the pension scheme, and 3912.57 by the employment office.

The main costs in patients with prostate cancer and radical prostatectomy have to been paid by the health insurance scheme and the pension scheme; 74.3% of the patients regained full fitness for work. The time until reintegration into work was correlated to the extent of physical labor.