Lung Cancer Treatment Costs in Germany: A Budget Impact Analysis

Lung cancer is responsible for over 2.2 million new cases annually. Germany’s oncology sector is renowned for its use of advanced tools and technologies, resulting in favorable outcomes in the hands of skilled specialists. This article aims to provide information on the treatment expenses and the top hospitals in Germany to fight lung cancer.

Different Types of Lung Cancer Treatment in Germany

German oncologists have demonstrated that an integrated approach can achieve the best outcomes. Lung cancer patients receive:

• Chemotherapy. Hospitals in Germany use a new type of antitumor medication that is highly effective in eliminating cancer while causing minimal harm to healthy cells.
• Targeted therapy. Depending on the tumor type and its characteristics, doctors may prescribe medication instead of chemotherapy. This medication may consist of angiogenesis inhibitors or agents that inhibit growth factors.
• Immunotherapy. German oncologists use biological drugs to enhance the body’s antitumor immune response. These drugs help activate the body’s defenses and enable it to fight cancer cells independently.
• Radiotherapy. Treating a tumor with radiation can improve the chances of deleting or reducing symptoms. This treatment can be administered remotely or through cutting-edge brachytherapy.
• Surgery. At the initial stages, the operation can be performed minimally in a traumatic way, including robotic, through several small chest punctures. Depending on the degree of lung damage, doctors remove its segment (segmentectomy), lobe (lobectomy), or whole organ at the advanced stages. 
• CyberKnife. This technique involves directing radio waves at cancerous cells, making it possible to eliminate cancer, even if it is located in difficult-to-reach lung areas.
• Proton therapy. Here is a unique treatment approach involving protons to destroy cancer cells.
• Cryotherapy. The procedure involves freezing at temperatures as low as -90°C and typically takes no longer than 3-5 minutes.

Identifying early symptoms of lung cancer can be difficult, but doctors in Germany have had success in treating even advanced cases. They use a combination of antitumor techniques to treat lung tumors that cannot be surgically removed, which improves patients’ quality of life.

Costs of Lung Cancer Treatment by Stage in Germany

The cost of treatment for each case may differ based on various factors such as diagnostic tests, recommended therapies, hospital care, and more. For lung cancer treatment in Germany, the expense is decided by the stage, complications, presence of distant metastases, and the patient’s general health condition:

• At stage 1, the surgeon removes the tumor if the patient’s condition allows surgery. After that, chemotherapy is prescribed to prevent cancer recurrence. If the tumor is inoperable or the patient’s condition does not allow the neoplasm to be surgically removed, radiation therapy acts as the primary treatment.
• In the 2nd stage, the primary method is surgery. If it is impossible or the neoplasm cannot be completely removed, radiation therapy or a combination of radio and chemotherapy is performed. 
• At stage 3, German oncologists can apply chemoradiotherapy followed by surgery. In case of inoperable tumors, it may be prescribed to the patient instead of surgery, and after it – immunotherapy.
• When lung cancer reaches stage 4, it may cause fluid buildup in the pleura or heart membranes. Unfortunately, a complete cure is impossible, so treatment focuses on managing symptoms. Doctors may use various techniques, including brachytherapy, ablation, immune and targeted therapy, tumor freezing, and stenting.

The volume of medical care influences the price, the need to use expensive innovative methods, and the length of stay in the clinic. The exact cost is calculated individually for each patient after selecting the optimal treatment regimen. On average, prices for lung cancer diagnosis in German clinics start from € 2,250. Surgery will cost 5000-22000€, taking into account the volume and the method of the operation. Chemotherapy costs about $3,000–5,000, radiotherapy – $9,000-$14,000, surgery – $13,000-$20,000.

Prices for the same services may vary among different hospitals in Germany. It is influenced by factors such as the type of clinic, accreditation, and the attending physician’s fee. Additionally, treatment costs may increase if the therapy needs to be prolonged. 

AiroMedical consultants will provide price lists and help you choose the most profitable option. With the expertise of qualified staff, state-of-the-art equipment, emotional support, and consultations, your expenses will be well worth the investment.

Health Care Quality and Patient Outcomes

In Germany, lung cancer patients have an excellent opportunity for recovery through advanced treatment options. The government invests significant funds into researching and developing new methods and drugs. The clinics receive financial support to purchase top-quality equipment and employ scientists who study diseases and develop effective treatment plans. 

Personalized medicine provides highly effective treatment for your specific condition. German doctors use high-precision diagnostics to identify specific mutations in cancer DNA and select drugs that can target and destroy tumor tissues. The Germans are very scrupulous in this matter, which explains the high survival rate of lung cancer patients in Germany.

Impact of German Health Care System on Lung Cancer Therapy

The German healthcare system has been synonymous with top-tier effectiveness and cutting-edge cancer therapy methods for many years. Germany’s government spent 12.8 % of its GDP on healthcare yearly, with a substantial portion allocated to research new cancer treatments.

Germany attracts thousands of medical tourists annually who experience new cancer treatment methods. Among these tourists are citizens from the US and various European countries.

Benefits of lung cancer treatment in Germany:

• High-tech therapy. Patients have access to the latest drugs recently approved for clinical use. If new cancer treatment is developed and proven effective, it will benefit the patient.
• Lower lethality. More patients survive after severe operations. Germany is consistently leading in terms of 5-year patient survival, ahead of the US, Israel, and other European countries.
• Relapses are less frequent. It is explained by the medical equipment quality and German oncologists’ scrupulousness.

Even for incurable patients, German oncologists can significantly alleviate the condition. In Germany, they can do complex palliative (symptomatic, i.e., eliminating unpleasant symptoms of cancer) operations. Leading specialists consult here, many of whom are world-class experts and are well-known in the professional environment:

• Prof. Dr. med. Thomas Werner Kraus, MBA, FACS
• Prof. Dr. med. Axel Stang
• Prof. Dr. med. Karl R. Aigner
• Prof. Dr. med. Peter Vajkoczy

Such professionals will consider your medical case and decide on your therapeutic program.

Best hospitals to treat Lung Cancer in Germany

Many large hospitals in Germany, which have oncological units, accept patients from different parts of the world for lung cancer treatment. The following clinics have the best indicators: 

• University Hospital Frankfurt am Main of Goethe-University
• University Hospital Ludwig-Maximilians Munich
• LDG Laboratory Dr. Gansauge Ulm

If you are considering lung cancer treatment in Germany, simply apply to the AiroMedical website. We will help you find the most suitable hospital and attending physician for your case. We will handle all the administrative and organizational tasks thanks to our direct connections with medical facilities. It ensures you can receive treatment from the specialists you trust at the best possible price.

References

1. Philips C. Lung cancer trial of Osimertinib draws praise – and some criticism. National cancer institute. Published July 05, 2023. https://www.cancer.gov/news-events/cancer-currents-blog/2023/osimertinib-lung-cancer-adaura
2. Volvak N. Lung cancer guide. AiroMedical. Updated January 14, 2023. https://airomedical.com/blogs/disease-guides/lung-cancer-guide
3. Lung cancer treatment, AiroMedical. Updated March 06, 2023.https://airomedical.com/search/lung-cancer
4. Lung cancer treatment in Germany, AiroMedical. Updated March 06, 2023.https://airomedical.com/search/lung-cancer/country=germany