Courtesy of our friends at Comminsure....

Breast cancer imposes a large financial burden on society, with total expenditure of $331 million in 2004-05, when $92 million was spent on hospital admitted patient services, $68 million on out-of hospital medical expenses, $53 million on prescription pharmaceuticals and $118 million on cancer screening.

However, most of the financial costs relating to cancer are due to lost productivity, largely borne by individuals and their families. The hidden costs of cancer faced by many sufferers include extended time off work, whilst enduring increased expenses, the effect on long-term employment prospects, as well as the possible impact on unpaid work, such as the ability to care for family members.

As we know, the latter largely falls within the female domain. As well as lost income, cancer-affected households often encounter out-of-pocket expenses relating to transport, medications, specialist clothing and mobility devices, and childcare and housekeeping costs. It is been estimated that the lifetime economic cost of breast cancer, per person, in NSW, is $653,600, comprising a financial cost of $64,300 and a ‘burden of disease’ cost (non-financial cost) of $589,300

These are big numbers to cover!!!

Here are the statistical facts:

Þ     Breast cancer is the most common cancer among Australian women accounting for 27 % of all cancer diagnoses

Þ     There were 2680 female deaths in 2007 (most recent figure available)

Þ     This year more than 14,000 Australian women will be told they have breast cancer

Þ     One in 9 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer before the age of 85

Þ     Nearly 80% of all breast lumps are benign

Þ     The risk of breast cancer increases with age. About 24 per cent of new breast cancer cases diagnosed in 2007 were in women younger than 50 years; 51 per cent in women aged 50-69; and 25 per cent in women aged 70 and over

Þ     CommInsure’s recent claims statistics indicate that breast cancer accounts for over 50 per cent of female cancer claims.

Þ     In 2006 five-year relative survival was 98.2% for women with 0–10 mm tumours, 94.7% for women with 11–15 mm tumours, 93% for women with 16–19 mm tumours, 87.9% for women with 20–29 mm tumours, 73.1% for women with tumours 30 mm or greater.