Prostate Cancer Financial Assistance

​Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers affecting men, impacting thousands of individuals and families each year. Living with prostate cancer can bring unpredictable medical costs and a lifelong need for specialized care, therapies, and out-of-pocket healthcare expenses.

There are common out-of-pocket costs associated with treating prostate cancer that, without financial assistance, can be overwhelming. People living with catastrophic illnesses, including prostate cancer, have successfully found financial help through medical fundraising with our nonprofit, Help Hope Live. ​

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. 

Common Costs of Prostate Cancer Treatment​

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. While medical costs can vary widely based on cancer stage and treatment type, families frequently face a broad range of out-of-pocket expenses not covered by insurance, such as: ​

• Health insurance premiums, deductibles, and co-payments ​
• Medications ​
• Medical travel expenses for therapy or treatment ​
• Relocation or moving expenses due to diagnosis (such as moving closer to a therapy center or hospital for treatment) ​
• Temporary housing due to medical relocation ​
• Mileage, tolls, and parking fees for visits to therapy centers or hospitals ​
• Home health care services and caregiving ​

​Some treatments may still be considered experimental and not reimbursed at all. Additionally, many patients require ongoing, lifelong monitoring and proactive management, creating recurring financial needs. 

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.

Breakdown of Prostate Cancer Treatment Costs

• 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 cost of a prostatectomy can range anywhere from $12,000 to $35,000.
• 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 rehabilitation 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. 

Does Medicare Pay for Prostate Cancer Treatment?

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.

Does Insurance Cover Prostate Cancer Care? 

Coverage may depend on the type of insurance, network restrictions, and your location. While most insurance plans cover basic medical care for prostate cancer, they may limit coverage for specific drugs, clinical trials, ongoing therapies, or equipment upgrades. Insurance may also restrict access to certain specialists or therapies, requiring substantial out-of-pocket costs. ​

Travel, home modifications, second opinions, or certain supportive therapies are seldom covered. Annual family out-of-pocket spending can easily reach thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars. ​

Raising medical funds through Help Hope Live can help bridge those gaps and bring vital relief from prostate cancer-related financial stress. 

Does Insurance Cover Proton Therapy for Prostate Cancer?

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.

Our nonprofit, Help Hope Live, is dedicated to making sure no one faces the financial impact of prostate cancer alone. ​

Through compassionate, community-based medical fundraising, we help families cover medical and related costs for prostate cancer patients to relieve the financial burden of out-of-pocket costs. ​

Turn to Help Hope Live for Prostate Cancer Financial Assistance

Fundraising can help with the out-of-pocket cost of prostate cancer. Through community-based 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-based 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

How Is Help Hope Live Different from GoFundMe?

Help Hope Live differs from GoFundMe by:

• Verifying your medical need for complete donor confidence
• Enabling donations that are tax deductible
• Providing one-on-one fundraising help
• Managing all funds raised to protect your state-based benefits (funds raised are not considered personal income/assets to you)
• Paying bills directly allows you to focus on treatment and recovery

We are a nonprofit organization with more than 4 decades of fundraising experience and a 4-star Charity Navigator rating.

Does Community-Based Fundraising Work?

Here are some Help Hope Live medical fundraising success stories:

"He is still in remission."

At 28 years old, Patrick Kent experienced aches and pains that led to an acute lymphocytic leukemia diagnosis. Fundraising became an essential part of his family’s financial approach to assisting with needs ranging from specialized treatments to inpatient care and hospitalizations. In 2020, his family commemorated the one-year anniversary of his diagnosis with a renewed sense of hope.

"It is an amazing demonstration of the TRUE meaning of a loving community"

Leo Patnode sustained a brain stem stroke following surgery during a business trip. His family engaged Help Hope Live to fundraise for multiple stroke-related medical costs, including inpatient and at-home physical therapy and 24/7 home caregiving. As of 2021, Leo’s campaign had surpassed $90,000 raised through community fundraisers.

Expertise. Secure. Compassion. Dependable. Trust.

These are the five most common words from clients and team members in a 2020 survey that describe our trusted medical fundraising nonprofit. 94% of our clients would recommend us as a medical fundraising resource.

Ready to get financial support for prostate cancer?

Request help today.