A national study is aiming to quantify the financial hardship cancer treatment places on patients, The Minnesota StarTribune reports.
1. Researchers from 437 cancer centers from across the United States are recruiting at least 370 patients with metastatic colorectal cancers to report on the financial hardships brought on by their care.
2. Researchers selected colorectal cancer because patients survive the disease, and could potentially face "mountains" of medical bills.
3. Pharmaceutical companies argue that the high price for new drugs is to recoup development costs, but several critics the prices are "beyond what is necessary."
4. Researchers are currently in the process of recruiting participants.