The Rising Cost of Fighting Cancer

One third of all Americans will get some form of cancer during their lifetimes — and the average cost of drug treatment is $100,000 a year. That's five to 10 times what it was 15 years ago and, for many patients, the cost of survival is bankruptcy. Drug companies insist big money is needed to cover research and development, but doctors, insurance companies and regulators say it's time for a change. Why do Americans have to pay more for cancer drugs than Canadians or Europeans?