Oral Cancer Drugs Price Increase: Rising Cost Of Cancer Treatment Hurting Patients, Study Finds

Many people are complaining about the rise of drug costs in the country. Cancer patients are also suffering because of the increase in the price of oral cancer drugs.

"The cost of certain oral medications for cancer treatment have increased multiple-fold since 2000, according to a study published today in the Journal of the American Medical Association," ABC News reports. The study also found that new drugs are getting even more expensive compared to drugs that are already on the market.

Study by @DusetzinaS : Costs for orally-administered cancer drugs skyrocket
Read more: https://t.co/9cA91ieOwE pic.twitter.com/N96um78ojC

— UNC Lineberger (@UNC_Lineberger) April 28, 2016

These oral cancer drugs that are increasing in price cause less stress and discomfort to patients compared to chemotherapy treatments for cancer. The study findings show that the cost of oral cancer drugs has increased from an average of $1,869 a month in 2000 to a shocking $11,325 a month in 2014.

"The major trend here is that these products are just getting more expensive over time," study author Stacie Dusetzina said in a statement via ABC News. She also noted that this increase in drug cost is making it almost impossible for cancer patients to get access to these beneficial oral cancer drugs.

The price of cancer drugs keeps rising. Unsustainable. Nice work by @DusetzinaS https://t.co/FyOYVx0WT6 pic.twitter.com/kBeM9jo1MK — Vinay Prasad (@VinayPrasad82) April 28, 2016

No one is quite sure why oral cancer drugs continue to rise in cost. However, some analysts believe that drug manufacturers are charging more for the oral cancer drugs because many cancer patients prefer this treatment compared to chemotherapy.

There are other possible treatments for cancer besides oral cancer drugs and chemotherapy. These include surgery, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, hormone therapy and stem cell transplant, according to the National Cancer Institute.