Takuro Morinaga (economic analyst) faced the realities of healthcare costs and insurance faced

Economic analyst Takuro Morinaga announced in December 2023 that he has stage IV pancreatic cancer. In his book "Gan Toushi Nikki (Diary of Cancer Battle)" (Sangokan Shinsha), which summarizes his battle with the disease, he talks in detail about the money involved in cancer treatment.

In this issue, based on Ms. Morinaga's experience, we will explain the costs of cancer treatment and the role of medical insurance and cancer insurance.
We hope you will all enjoy reading this article.

What is the birth of cancer cells? What is a copy error?

Mr. Morinaga compares the birth mechanism of cancer cells to a cellular copy error.

The human body replicates DNA in the process of replacing old cells with new cells through metabolism. However, in rare cases, a copy error occurs and a cell that is different from the original is born. This is what cancer cells are.

Normally, immune cells monitor the body and attack and eliminate cancer cells. However, if the immune system is weakened for some reason, cancer cells proliferate and the disease worsens.
A copy error is a good analogy, in my opinion.

About the Power of Immune Cells and Opdivo

Opdivo is a revolutionary antibody drug that has attracted much attention in recent years. This drug enhances the ability of immune cells to fight cancer cells by activating their natural anti-cancer activity.

Opdivo binds to a protein called PD-1 on the surface of immune cells and prevents immune cells from being suppressed by cancer cells. As a result, immune cells are able to exert their full potential and attack cancer cells.

Unlike conventional anticancer drugs, Opdivo has the advantage of having relatively few side effects. However, the high cost of the drug is a challenge. (This is because it is covered by insurance.)

It is important to enhance the immune system through a healthy lifestyle.

The power of immune cells can be easily compared to the "healthiness" of a soldier.

By eating a healthy diet consisting mainly of vegetables and adopting moderate exercise, the health level of immune cells can be increased and their ability to resist cancer cells can be strengthened.

Adequate sleep and stress reduction can also help improve immunity.
Then there is an interesting quote in the next paragraph

The quote "30% of immunity depends on how you feel".

A doctor asserts that "30% of immunity is the patient's feeling.

Negative thoughts may decrease immunity and, conversely, promote the growth of cancer cells.

Having a positive attitude and not giving up hope are key factors in overcoming cancer.
It seems that people who have dreams and things they want to do after overcoming cancer are more likely to maintain a strong mental attitude.

Opdivo cost: over 3 million yen for 3 months

It is said that Opdivo is administered for an average of about five months, and the total cost of Opdivo had amounted to tens of millions of yen. Although the price of the drug has dropped significantly in recent years, it still costs about 3 million yen for 5 months of treatment.
However, if health insurance is applied, the patient burden will be greatly reduced.

(From my point of view, this is a reasonable amount compared to the cost of treatment in the U.S. In fact, I would say that it is quite inexpensive. (From my point of view, the cost is reasonable compared to the cost of treatment in the United States. The question is whether or not you are aware that the cost of treatment in the U.S. is in the millions, tens of millions, or in rare cases, hundreds of millions, as there is no universal health insurance system like in Japan. If you only know the cost of treatment in Japan, this amount of about 3 million may seem expensive, but if you know about other countries, you may think it is cheaper. (After all, information is important.)

Should I get cancer insurance?

Many people are worried about the high cost of cancer treatment.

With medical insurance, the patient's co-payment is limited to 30% for certain treatment methods, known as standard treatment.

In addition, the co-payment can be further reduced by utilizing the high-cost medical care reimbursement system and medical expense deduction.

On the other hand, if a patient chooses a treatment method that is not covered by insurance, known as free treatment, the patient is responsible for the full amount of medical expenses.

Many people purchase cancer insurance to cover the high cost of treatment.

Cancer insurance is broadly divided into two types: a benefit type that pays a lump sum upon diagnosis of cancer, and a medical insurance type that compensates for the cost of treatment.

The benefit type allows you to receive a lump sum of money just for being diagnosed with cancer, but has the disadvantage of high premiums.

The medical insurance type compensates for the cost of treatment, so you can be prepared in case you actually need to undergo treatment.

However, enrollment screening is strict and not all treatments are covered.

Choosing the right treatment and insurance policy for you

Cancer treatment can be very expensive.

Medical insurance and cancer insurance can help reduce out-of-pocket costs, but each has its own advantages and disadvantages.

In order to choose the treatment and insurance that is right for you, first try to get more information! (From there, discuss with your doctor, and if you are not satisfied, consider a second opinion. (In my case, I would use a second opinion 100% of the time.)

) Each person has his or her own opinion, but don't just believe what celebrities say.