Background: Global breast cancer status as reported in 2022 revealed an estimated 2.3 million new cases and 666,000 breast cancer-related deaths, accounting for 23.8 % of all cancer cases and 15.4 % of deaths among women. This study evaluated the orthodox (hospital) cost of breast cancer care among women diagnosed with breast cancer in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, from the healthcare payers’ perspective.

Methods: A cross-sectional analytical study was carried out among breast cancer patients in two teaching hospitals using questionnaires in Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

Results: A total of 276 consenting histologically confirmed patients were used for quantitative study. The study was analysed using descriptive statistics with the aid of SPSS version 21 and Microsoft excel. The mean age of the study participant was 48.2 years. The average monthly income of 211 (76%) respondents was less than 230 USD. The average total direct medical costs for orthodox breast cancer care per patient was equivalent to ₦14,346,501.00 (9,564.36 USD). The average direct non-medical cost for orthodox care was ₦954,380.76 per patient and ₦1,908,761.52 (1272.50 USD) per household. The indirect non-medical cost for orthodox care was ₦962,222.60 (641.48 USD), and ₦1,924,445.21 (1,282.96 USD) per household. The cumulative costs of orthodox medical (hospital) breast cancer care were ₦18,179,707.73 (12,119.8 USD).

Conclusion: This study uncovered the orthodox costs of breast cancer per patient and household, as seen through the lenses of the healthcare payers. Catastrophic expenditure was observed, and out-of-pocket expenses was the dominant mode of payment. Concerted efforts are needed to subsidise breast cancer care.