Listen Live
Donate
 on air
    Schedule

    KCRW

    Read & Explore

    • News
    • Entertainment
    • Food
    • Culture
    • Events

    Listen

    • Live Radio
    • Music
    • Podcasts
    • Full Schedule

    Information

    • About
    • Careers
    • Help / FAQ
    • Newsletters
    • Contact

    Support

    • Become a Member
    • Become a VIP
    • Ways to Give
    • Shop
    • Member Perks

    Become a Member

    Donate to KCRW to support this cultural hub for music discovery, in-depth journalism, community storytelling, and free events. You'll become a KCRW Member and get a year of exclusive benefits.

    DonateGive Monthly

    Copyright 2026 KCRW. All rights reserved.

    Report a Bug|Privacy Policy|Terms of Service|
    Cookie Policy
    |FCC Public Files|

    Back to To the Point

    To the Point

    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.

    • rss
    • Share
    By Warren Olney • Jul 29, 2015 • 34m Listen

    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?

    The full episode

    2 of 3
    The Rising Cost of Fighting Cancer
    1. 1:33Taliban Leader Is Dead… and Has Been for Years
    2. 8:24The Rising Cost of Fighting CancerYou’re reading this
    3. 42:58The Death of Cecil and the Controversy over Big Game Hunting
    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Warren Olney

      former KCRW broadcaster

    • KCRW placeholder

      Christine Detz

      Producer, 'To the Point'

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Evan George

      Director of Content, News

    • KCRW placeholder

      Andrea Brody

      Senior Producer, KCRW's Life Examined and To the Point podcast

    • KCRW placeholder

      Jeanne Whalen

      Wall Street Journal

    • KCRW placeholder

      Hagop Kantarjian

      MD Anderson Cancer Center

    • KCRW placeholder

      Lori Reilly

      Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America

      NewsNationalPolitics

    The full episode

    2 of 3
    The Rising Cost of Fighting Cancer
    1. 1:33Taliban Leader Is Dead… and Has Been for Years
    2. 8:24The Rising Cost of Fighting CancerYou’re reading this
    3. 42:58The Death of Cecil and the Controversy over Big Game Hunting
    Back to To the Point