Abstract P2-07-15: Economic impact of breast cancer in Mexico
Authors: Sherwell-Cabello S , Maffuz-Aziz A , Rodríguez-Cuevas S 
Published: March 2017

Background: Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer in Mexico and is the leading oncologic death cause among women older than 25 years-old. Its incidence has steadily increased during the last decades. Unfortunately, most of the patients are diagnosed in advanced stages, increasing the cost of the treatment and mortality. Through this study, we analyse the annual economic impact of breast cancer in Mexico.

Materials and methods: Data from Mexican official statistics from 2014 were obtained. The rate of population covered by the public health system, the mean income per capita, the age for retirement, the funds used in public hospitals according to clinical stages, the mean age for diagnosis and the mean age of death by breast cancer in Mexico and the mean cost of a funeral service were obtained.

We calculate the direct costs including the funds used for diagnosis and treatment of the patients with breast cancer in the public hospitals. The indirect costs were obtained calculating the mean per capita income lost due to death by breast cancer, the number of deaths before 65 years-old (Age for retirement in Mexico) and the mean cost for funeral services.

Costs for breast cancer treatment were also obtained according to the funds for early stages (0 – IIA), locally-advanced stages (IIB – IIIC) and metastatic stages (IV). Results were compared between groups.

Results: In 2014, around 20,500 new cases of breast cancer were diagnosed in Mexico. Among them, 15,826 patients (77.2%) were treated in public health institutions. From these patients, 38.7% were diagnosed in early stages, 51% in locally-advanced stages and 9.6% in stage IV. Only 22% were diagnosed during screening mammography.

In 2014, funds for early stages amounted to US $44,077, 959; for locally-advanced stages to US $120,727,505 and for metastatic stages to US $ 192,623,862. The total fund for breast cancer, including diagnosis and treatment, was US $ 304, 747,165. Treatments for locally advanced stages were 107.8% higher compared to early stages (US $14,958 / 7,197).

It has been demonstrated that the mean age of breast cancer diagnosis in Mexico is 53 years-old, while the mean age of death due to this disease is 58 years-old. Age for retirement is 65 years and 76% of the breast cancer patients appeared in this group of age or younger. The mean per capita income is US $22 and the cost for funeral was US $1,968 approximately. The mean Overall-Survival rate for breast cancer in Mexico is 83.1%, so the mortality rate is 16.9%, so 2044 patients died due to breast cancer in 2014. The economic loss for the families amounted to US $120,647,834: US$116, 624,822 for the loss of the per capita income and US $4,023,012 for the cost for funeral services.

Conclusions: Breast cancer has a great economic impact in both the government and the patient, especially in advanced stages. It is extremely important to improve the mammographic screening programs in Mexico and reduce the time of care. Initiation of annual screening mammography starting at 40 years-old should be a mandatory policy in order to increase the rate of diagnosis of breast cancer at early stages. In the near future, there will not be sufficient economic resources for treating breast cancer in Mexico, if new and strict policies are not carried out.

Citation Format: Sherwell-Cabello S, Maffuz-Aziz A, Rodríguez-Cuevas S. Economic impact of breast cancer in Mexico [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2016 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2016 Dec 6-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P2-07-15.