How much are you willing to pay to live just a while longer, say, 4-5 months? Recently, the FDA approved two new prostate cancer drugs. This article presents the high cost of both Zytiga ($5,000/month) and Provenge ($93,000/treatment). I remember my professors talking about USC's Norris Cancer center providing Provenge to patients with advanced prostate cancer. It's effective and an option after hormone therapy begins to fail, but how many are able to pay the 93k? Men with prostate cancer are usually well over age 60, so chances are high that they're on Medicare. By accepting such costly treatment, you have the chance to live a few more months (a few people live some years more). Afterwards, however, what condition is your family in? You won't know exactly how long you have left, how will you spend each moment while you wait for that time to come? As your condition inevitably worsens, will you be able to face the reality that you can't extend your time anymore? Is dragging on life with the disease worth it?
I respect you medical doctors who must handle such issues when prescribing medications to patients.
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