Long-term medical-care costs related to prostate cancer: estimates from linked SEER-Medicare data.

Limited data are available concerning long-term prostate cancer (PCa)-related medical costs for use in assessing PCa prevention strategies. The aim of this study was to examine treatment, long-term survival, and long-term PCa-related costs by cancer stage. Costs in phases of care based on the natural history of PCa were also examined. Our data illustrate that initial care is characteristic of a rapid rate of cost accrual. This rate then decreases during continuing care. For terminal care, only stage IV resumes a rate of cost accrual similar to initial care. With average PCa-related costs of $18,168 observed over an average follow-up of 4 years, prevention strategies may result in a reduction in medical costs.