Economic burden of cancer across the European Union: a population-based cost analysis

In this article, the authors estimated the economic burden of cancer in the EU.
Their results show wide differences between countries. 

• In 2008, 2·45 million people were diagnosed with cancer and 1·23 million died because of cancer in the 27 countries of the European Union (EU). 
• Cancer cost the EU €126 billion in 2009, with health care accounting for €51·0 billion (40%). 
• Across the EU, the health-care costs of cancer were equivalent to €102 per citizen, but varied substantially.
• Productivity losses because of early death cost €42·6 billion and lost working days €9·43 billion. 
• Informal care cost €23·2 billion. 
• Lung cancer had the highest economic cost (€18·8 billion, 15% of overall cancer costs), followed by breast cancer (€15·0 billion, 12%), colorectal cancer (€13·1 billion, 10%), and prostate cancer (€8·43 billion, 7%).