Prostate Cancer Financial Assistance

Prostate cancer is cancer that develops in the prostate gland. It occurs when abnormal cells in the prostate gland grow and form a tumor. Symptoms may include pain and difficulty while urinating and pain in the lower back, hips, or thighs. Early detection and treatment can improve the chances of a successful recovery.

There are common out-of-pocket costs associated with treating prostate cancer that, without financial assistance, can be overwhelming for some patients.

In this post, you’ll learn about common costs associated with prostate cancer, which expenses may not be covered by insurance, and how to secure prostate cancer financial assistance through fundraising and other available resources. 

The Cost of a Prostate Cancer Diagnosis

According to recent studies, the median out-of-pocket cost of prostate cancer medical expenses can exceed $14,400 within the first three years after diagnosis. 

A prostate cancer diagnosis can easily lead to what the National Cancer Institute calls financial toxicity: the issues that patients and families face due to the high cost of cancer-related medical care. Insurance never covers every cost, and without assistance, cancer patients may find themselves struggling to cover essential medical and related expenses. One study found that the average cost of prostate cancer treatments is about $2,800 per month after the diagnosis.

• Surgery: The costs associated with surgery for prostate cancer can vary greatly depending on the size of the affected area and the placement of the tumor. The average price for prostate surgery is about $35,000, which is still nearly double the current Medicare reimbursement. 
• Radiation: According to the American Cancer Society, it costs $17,474 initially and about $25,097 over five years.
• Health insurance premiums: Depending on your insurance plan, these expenses vary significantly.
• Physical therapy: Physiotherapy intervention is not always used during the rehabitual stage following treatment, but it can include support across multiple areas, including daily tasks and routine exercises. 
• Preventative medicine: Depending on the type of prostate cancer and the medications needed post-treatment, the price will vary significantly. Here is a list of medications and their expected costs. 

Common Out-of-Pocket Costs for Prostate Cancer

Insurance typically will not cover all the care you need to treat and live with prostate cancer. Here are a few costs you may need to cover out of pocket, fully or partially:

• Health insurance premiums, deductibles, and co-payments
• Medications
• Transportation for treatment
• Air ambulance for emergency visits
• Relocation or moving expenses for treatment
• Temporary housing due to relocation
• Mileage, tolls, and parking fees for medical visits
• Lodging expenses for patient and support person
• Hospital telephone and television privileges
• Uninsured cancer-related procedures
• Home modification related to the diagnosis
• Home health care services
• Physical therapy and rehabilitation

While Medicare does pay for prostate cancer screening and some aspects of prostate cancer treatment, there are many out-of-pocket costs for prostate cancer that you may incur regardless of your insurance coverage or insurance premium.

Proton beam radiation therapy is an alternative to traditional radiation that may reduce the chance of damage to healthy tissues near the tumor for some patients and reduce pain. Since the prescribed treatment of proton therapy is more costly than traditional radiation, many health insurance companies do not cover the cost. As a result, prostate cancer patients and families interested in this form of therapy may be responsible for the associated out-of-pocket costs of prostate cancer treatment.

Finding Prostate Cancer Financial Assistance

Expenses associated with prostate cancer procedures, rehabilitation and therapy, and long-term health care will vary depending on the situation. Regardless of the specifics, the expenses can add up quickly for patients and their families. Finding financial support for prostate cancer treatments can be a burden.

If you need assistance with prostate cancer expenses, our nonprofit is here to help.

As your community-led fundraising source, you can work with Help Hope Live to access greater financial support for prostate cancer treatments. Together, we can raise funds to assist with unmet medical expenses and related costs from living with prostate cancer.

Turn to Help Hope Live for Prostate Cancer Financial Assistance

Fundraising can help with the out-of-pocket cost of prostate cancer. Through community-led medical fundraising, our nonprofit organization is dedicated to helping you raise funds for the medical expenses associated with surgery or ongoing support for prostate cancer. 

How Does Fundraising For Prostate Cancer Work?

The fundraising process with our nonprofit starts with a few simple steps:

1. Complete a short campaign request at helphopelive.org/get-started/apply
2. We will contact you if community-led fundraising is a possible option
3. You’ll be paired with a Client Services Coordinator
4. Your Coordinator will provide you with one-on-one fundraising help, including personalized materials and guidance on rallying your community, sharing your story on social media, reaching out to the press, planning in-person or virtual fundraising events, and much more