for HER2+ early breast cancers the value our doctors place on our life is $50k annual cost of herceptin NHMRC recommends NOT to spend if your tumour is under 5mm. That is despite that:
I'm the one how will lose my life in a year or so (good case scenario) because when I was diagnosed with HER2+ cancer and 6mm by 1.9mm tumour was removed, someone decided behind my back and w/o sharing with me the reasoning, that it is more important to classify this tumour as 1.9mm in depth penetration, rather than maximum 6mm extend and that the patient will be fine with radiation course and subsequent annual monitoring by mammogram.
another measure of value for our lives is $300 cost of breast MRI i was denied by my surgeon and sent to do mammogram. which was clean just 3 month before i was diagnosed with metastatic cancer and 3 lesions of 1cm each were deteced by ultra/sound and MRI in my breast. Mammogram was still clear, just as it was clear in 2009 when i first complained on breast problem, then in 2010 when my complain got me to dermathologist and skin biopsy, confirming breast cancer. $300 MRI stopped my doctor to refer me to this, even when i was quite prepared to pay it on non-rebatable basis. Why would doctor insist on using mammogram having a history of failure to detect cancer - beats me. Did not want to bother, did not want to use expensive diagnostic. I was not worthy of $300 and his time to think over it.
I estimate that my treatment for stage 4 cancer now costs to PBS and Medicare in excess of $150k. it also costs me some pretty money too, all out of pocket, gaps, PBS medications.
