6 June 2017 - The relentless increase in health care costs has been difficult to control and is widely believed to be approaching a tipping point that threatens the economic well-being of many nations and their citizens. 

Although cancer represents only a fraction of total health care expenditures, economists are predicting an increase in the costs of cancer care in the United States from $120 billion in 2010 to $158 billion in 2020.

Many factors contribute to this increase including larger numbers of patients with cancer, which is a reflection of the ageing population; higher costs of hospitalisations and procedures; and longer survival while on treatment. The steepest increments in cost are projected to be related to the cost of cancer drugs.

Read J Clin Oncol editorial