Economic Burden of Breast Cancer on Patients and their Caregivers in a Regional Health Setting in Thailand: A Prevalence-Based Cost-of-Illness Study

Data were collected from 404 participants, comprising 202 pairs of breast cancer patients and their caregivers across Health Region 9 during six months from September 2024 to February 2025. All the patients were female with a mean age of 56.13 years. The majority of the caregivers were also female. Most caregivers were related to the patients, with the majority being the children or spouses. The average total cost of illness was USD 165.11. Regarding the indirect costs, the average total costs for the patients and their caregivers were USD 80.10, with the highest proportion (at 48.52% of the total costs) accounted for by lost income due to leaving work due to sickness (USD 47.92 per month). This study shows that the economic impact of breast cancer treatment in a regional setting in Thailand was primarily due to productivity losses from missed work, which represents an indirect cost rather than a direct medical expense.