Pinal County, Arizona (AZ) County population in 2014: 401,918 (78% urban, 22% rural); it was 179,727 in 2000. County owner-occupied with a mortgage or a loan houses and condos in 2010: 67,766. County owner-occupied free and clear houses and condos in 2010: 27,863.
In this study, Yale University researchers looked at data from more than 4,000 Medicare patients aged 66 and older who received either the newer radiation therapy or the standard radiation therapy as primary treatment for prostate cancer. The average per-patient cost was about $13,600 for the new therapy and $21,000 for the standard therapy. Two years after the start of treatment, patients who received the newer therapy had more side effects -- such as irritation of the urethra, urinary incontinence and urinary obstruction -- than those who received standard radiation therapy.
For example, proton therapy in prostate cancer cost $24,400 more than standard conformal radiotherapy (P < .001) and $11,000 more than 35 daily fractions of IMRT. The setting in which treatment is delivered also affects cost, particularly for prostate cancer.