Skin Cancer Treatment Costs: Medication, Surgery, and More

Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the U.S., and anyone can develop this condition. Although anyone can get skin cancer, people with fair skin and certain skin changes are at greater risk.

There are several kinds of skin cancer. The three main types are:

• Basal cell carcinoma: This is the most common skin cancer in the U.S., and it is most prevalent in people 50 and older. This cancer mostly occurs in parts of skin that are exposed to the sun, but it can occur elsewhere. This slow-growing cancer rarely spreads.

• Squamous cell carcinoma: This type of skin cancer develops in the top layer of the skin. This is the second-most-common skin cancer in the U.S. It can spread to other parts of the body.

• Melanoma: This is the most serious form of skin cancer. Melanoma is the most rare type of skin cancer, but it is the leading cause of death from skin disease. Risk factors include UV exposure and severe sunburns (particularly during childhood), genetic factors, and a weakened immune system.

How do you treat skin cancer?

There are many types of skin cancer treatments. The right treatment depends on the type of skin cancer as well as its size and location. Some common treatment options include:

• Chemotherapy

• Immunotherapy

• Radiotherapy (radiation therapy)

• Surgery of various types

How much does skin cancer treatment cost in the U.S.?

The CDC says that treatment for all kinds of skin cancer costs nearly $9 billion per year in the U.S. and that about 6 million people receive this care annually.

For individuals, the cost of treating skin cancer depends on the details of your case because those determine your treatment regimen. There are many treatments for skin cancer, including chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation — and their costs can vary widely. Many cancer medications, especially immunotherapy, are very costly. Even with insurance coverage, your out-of-pocket costs could be thousands of dollars for one round of treatment. You may be able to defray costs if you qualify for financial assistance programs for people who have been diagnosed with cancer.

How does the stage of cancer affect treatment options and cost?

Cancer stages indicate the severity of your condition. At each stage, there are different treatments, each with its own cost.

Is treatment more expensive for advanced cancers?

Generally, yes. More advanced types of cancer usually need more treatment to stop them from growing and spreading.

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• Help paying for cancer costs. You may qualify for a patient assistance program, which may be offered by a medication manufacturer or a nonprofit organization, to help you with cancer treatment expenses.

• Immunotherapy cost: Skin cancer is among the conditions that can be treated with Keytruda, which can cost more than $20,000 for one infusion without insurance or discounts.

• Skin cancer if you have more melanin: Skin cancer can look different on people with darker skin, when compared with people with fairer skin. Unfamiliarity with all types of presentations can lead to delays in diagnosis and treatment.

Notably, skin cancer in people of color is often diagnosed at a later (and costlier) stage. A study published in 2020 in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology measured lag times between racial groups. Compared with non-Hispanic white people, Black people had longer waits for immunotherapy and for surgery to treat melanoma in stages I, II, and III.

How much do skin cancer drugs cost?

Medications can be a part of skin cancer treatment. They are usually used in combination with other care or if surgery is not an option. Many medications are new treatments and specialty drugs that carry high price tags. Some require administration by a healthcare professional.

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network issues evidence-based care recommendations that include treatments by type of cancer:

• Basal cell skin cancer

• Melanoma

• Squamous cell skin cancer

Medications used to treat skin cancer include:

How much does skin cancer surgery cost?

The cost of skin cancer surgery depends on the type of surgery. The price can range from less than $1,000 for a simple excision in a small area to $5,000 for surgery on a larger site.

Common surgical procedures for basal cell and squamous cell cancers are:

• Simple excision: Cutting out the tumor and some of the normal tissue around it.

• Shave excision: Shaving the surface of the skin to remove the tumor.

• Mohs micrographic surgery: Removing the skin in layers until no more cancer cells are seen. According to one dermatologic surgeon, Mohs surgery without insurance can exceed $10,000.

Advanced forms of melanoma often need to be treated with more specialized and involved types of surgery. Melanoma cancer surgery can be more costly.

How expensive is follow-up care for skin cancer?

Follow-up care is an important part of managing skin cancer and lowering the risk of recurrence or spread. You may need a few visits to a healthcare professional for screenings and monitoring after your treatment.

You may need wound care for the surgical site as well. Wound-care costs depend on the size of the wound, the type of care, and the length of time your wound takes to heal. A study cited in the American Journal of Managed Care put the starting cost of 30-day wound-related care at $8,583.

How much does radiation for skin cancer cost?

The price of radiation therapy depends on the type of therapy you get, the number of treatments you need, and the cost of radiation therapy where you live. Hospital-based radiation therapy for a nonmelanoma skin lesion can cost $2,000 to $8,000.

How much does chemotherapy for skin cancer cost?

Chemotherapy is often used to treat nonmelanoma skin cancer. Chemotherapy is not the first-choice treatment for melanoma unless it’s in an advanced stage.

Your cost for chemotherapy depends on the treatment. For instance, an IV medication that must be given by a healthcare professional can have administration costs (unlike an oral medication).

The average price for one tube of fluorouracil cream (40 g of 5%) can be $190.19 with a GoodRx coupon. Other chemotherapy medications can range from $1,000 to more than $10,000 per month.

How much does immunotherapy for skin cancer cost?

Immunotherapy can be costly. The list price for one dose of Keytruda, which is administered every 6 weeks, is $23,590.88 or about $200,000 annually. (The list price is typically not what people pay out of pocket after insurance, discounts, or patient assistance programs.) Costs for combination therapies are often higher.

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Written by:

Cindy George, MPH

Cindy George, MPH, is the senior personal finance editor at GoodRx. She is an endlessly curious health journalist and digital storyteller.

Reviewed by:

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH, is a medical editor at GoodRx. She is a licensed, board-certified pediatrician with more than a decade of experience in academic medicine.

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