Direct medical costs for stage-specific breast cancer: a retrospective analysis

Aim: To analyze the direct medical costs of breast cancer (BC) patients in the north of Jordan. Patients: A cohort of BC patients treated during 2015 at King Abdullah University Hospital. Methods: A retrospective analysis of 119 patients, where all records including age, sex, treatment processes and costs were extracted from the patients' profiles and examined. Results: The mean age of patients was 50.8 (+/- 10.2) years. The total sample cost was Jordanian dinar 1,393,325 (US$1,963,560). The mean cost per patient from stage I to IV was Jordanian dinar 6696, 9183, 11,970 and 15,073, respectively. Medications were the most expensive resource used. Stage IV had the highest cost and largest number of patients. Conclusion: Direct medical costs associated with BC are considerable. Three-quarters of the cost were devoted to medications.