Comparative costs of lung cancer management

A method is outlined for comparative costing of different protocols of lung cancer management in a free-standing clinic. The costs of chemotherapy and radiation therapy are evaluated according to alternative regimens of treatment. The costs of new patient assessment, patient follow-up, and ancillary care (social work and nutrition assistance) are also included. Except for the cost of routine blood tests during chemotherapy and radiotherapy planning computerized tomography (CT) scans, costs incurred outside the clinic are excluded. The method is illustrated by application to out-patient treatment of lung cancer at the Victoria Clinic of the British Columbia Cancer Agency in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, using data for the 1989-90 fiscal year of the Clinic. The method may be adapted for use in other disease and institutional settings.