Chemotherapy And Other Costs Of Cancer Treatment In Singapore [Updated 2024]

In a previous article we explored the basic information that people ought to know about cancer treatment costs in Singapore. In essence, for later-stage cancer, we can expect the cost to be in the range of $100,000 to $200,000 per year. But how about the costs for each component of cancer treatment? For instance, what are chemotherapy costs in Singapore? In this article, we will take a deeper look into chemotherapy and other various components of the cost of cancer treatment in Singapore.

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Cost Of Cancer Diagnostic Tests

When cancer screening detects a potential problem or abnormality, diagnostic testing is needed to help doctors ascertain the nature of the problem. This enables a proper plan of cancer treatment to be made. There are various diagnostic tests available and at times, a combination of them will be needed.

Often, doctors will start with less intrusive imaging tests to detect cancer, such as CT, MRI and PET / PET-CT scans. In Singapore, a PET scan typically costs from about S$2,000. A CT scan’s cost may start from S$500 for cancer-related scans.

Learn More: Medical Imaging In Singapore >>

A procedure called a biopsy might need to be done If imaging tests do not provide sufficient clarity on the nature of the abnormality. There is where a sample of tissue from the body is extracted and analysed to determine if it is cancerous. This might require inpatient stay, depending on how invasive the procedure has to be in order to extract the required tissue.

The average historic biopsy costs in Singapore for top cancers according to the Ministry of Health (MOH) are:

* Total bill paid by 50% of patients (typically including doctor’s consultation fee, ward charges, medication, tests, etc.)

Cancer Surgery Costs

One of the ways to treat cancer is surgery, and how the surgery is carried out (e.g. invasive or minimally invasive surgery) will affect the cost.

MOH’s listing of the average cost of surgeries for the most common cancers in Singapore are:

Chemotherapy Costs

Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells, control the spread of cancer, or to shrink tumours. Patients may sometimes require a combination of different chemotherapies to treat the cancer.

Chemotherapy costs in Singapore depend on the type and of drugs used, and the number of times they have to be administered.

Data from MOH (accessed in Sep 2024) provided these average chemotherapy costs in Singapore (Code: R63Z):

In addition, The National University Cancer Institute Singapore provides the following estimates (data as of Jan 2023):

Note: NCIS’s estimated out-of-pocket expenses are based on unsubsidised Singaporean patients and they exclude consultation fee and cost of laboratory investigations and scans. The final hospital bill depends on the patient’s condition and the chemotherapy regimen, and may differ from the estimated out-of-pocket expenses provided here. Patients should be prepared for a range of potential scenarios.

Cost Of Radiotherapy

Radiotherapy is a cancer treatment method that kills cancer cells using high doses of radiation to damage the DNA of the cancer cells.

The cost of radiotherapy can range from $25,000 to $30,000.

Other Cancer Treatments

In addition to surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy to treat cancer, there are times that other treatments are needed or are more appropriate, such as immunotherapy, laser therapy, hormonal therapy, and more. Discuss with your healthcare provider the additional or alternative treatments that may be suitable, and they can advise on the treatment costs as well.

Comparison: Cost Of Cancer Treatment In Malaysia

The estimated cost to treat cancer in Malaysia can go up to as high as RM 395,000 and may vary depending on the type of cancer and type of facility chosen.

• Cancer surgery cost in Malaysia may range from RM 5,000 to RM 50,000.
• A single cycle of chemotherapy may cost up to around RM 10,000.
• The cost of a session of radiotherapy may cost up to RM 30,000.

Learn More: Cost Of Cancer Treatment In Malaysia >>

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