Question

** WILL FAN & MEDAL **
I keep getting this question wrong, can someone please help
Two different chemotherapy regimens can be used to treat breast cancer. Treatment with doxorubicin is known to show a remission rate 40% of the time. This treatment costs $1,000. The other treatment, docetaxel, shows a remission rate 25% of the time and costs $850.

The two treatment plans are:

Plan A: Treat with doxorubicin. If not effective, treat with docetaxel.
Plan B: Treat with docetaxel. If not effective, treat with doxorubicin.
Based on the data provided, what is the expected cost per patient

Answer 1

under plan B?
A) $850
B) $1,000
C) $1,510
D) $1,600

Answer 2

what have you attempted?

Answer 3

Well, me and my mom both went over it and it says what is the expected cost per patient under plan B? and I said $850 because that is the expected cost but if it doesnt work THEN you treat with doxorubicin. Right? I'm lost

Answer 4

if it doesnt work we go with the other plan yes

Answer 5

take one person

so start with they put you on plan B ...it cost 850

spose it fails, then we are out the 850 and have to spend 1000 .... but what percent of the time would we expect to have to pay the 1000?

Answer 6

25%?

Answer 7

25% of the time the plan works..so 75% of the time we would have to resort to the other option

Answer 8

oh okay

Answer 9

so do I add them?

Answer 10

there is 100% chance of paying the treatment of planB

and there is a 75% chance of paying for the treatment of planA

you would add up your expected costs yes

Answer 11

1,850?

Answer 12

no

850 + .75(1000) is not 1850

Answer 13

1600?

Answer 14

thats what i get yes

another way to view it; we pay 850 to start with

what is the extra cost? well 25% of the time we pay nothing extra, and 74% of the time we have to pay for the other treatment

our extra cost is therefore: .25(0) + .75(1000)

850 + 'extra cost' is what we would expect to pay

Answer 15

lol ... 75% of the time, had a slight typo

Answer 16

I see now! Bless you thanks for being so in depth with explaining everything I really appreciate the help :)

Answer 17

good luck :)

Answer 18

@amistre64 I have one more question about this problem

Answer 19

@amistre64 Based on the data provided, what is the probability that a patient treated under plan A will show remission?

Answer 20

never mind

Answer 21

40% are 'cured' to start with on planA

the remainder (60%) go the next drug ... and 25% of them are 'cured'

.40 + .25(.60) seems fair