Socioeconomic burden of breast cancer in Cyprus estimated at 180.9 million euros

A new study titled "Economic burden of breast cancer in Cyprus from a societal perspective," presented on October 20, 2026, in Nicosia, reveals that the total annual socioeconomic cost of breast cancer in Cyprus reached 180.9 million euros in 2024. The research, led by Dr. Yiola Markou of the Bank of Cyprus Oncology Center and published in the Expert Review of Pharmacoeconomics & Outcomes Research, is the first of its kind in the country to analyze the disease's financial impact from a societal perspective.

Data shows that costs are highly dependent on the stage of the disease. While the average annual cost per patient with early-stage breast cancer is 13,264 euros, this figure rises to 26,360 euros for metastatic cases. The total expenditure breakdown indicates that disease management accounts for 68.5% of costs, followed by pharmaceutical expenses at 11.7%, healthcare resource utilization at 9.2%, and productivity loss at 10.6%. Specifically, absenteeism from work due to the illness results in a 19.2 million euro loss to the national economy.

The event was organized by Novartis Cyprus under the auspices of the Cyprus Medical Association and the Cyprus Federation of Patients' Associations to discuss the implications of these findings for the healthcare system and the broader economy.