Spending More for Lung Cancer Treatment Did Not Substantially Increase Patients' Lives

A new study finds that survival for elderly patients with lung cancer has changed little despite large increases in healthcare expenditures for lung cancer treatment. The study from Harvard University, published in the December 1, 2007 issue of CANCER, finds that average life-expectancy rose by less than one month between 1983 and 1997, while costs rose by over $20,000 per patient. Lung cancer remains the top cause of cancer death in the United States, with an estimated 160,390 deaths expected to occur in 2007.