The Cost of Mesothelioma Treatment
The treatment for mesothelioma can be costly. Patients must be aware of their health insurance coverage and keep an eye on all medical expenses.
Private health insurance and Medicare generally cover a majority of the costs of mesothelioma treatment. However, there are also financial assistance programs available to assist. Other expenses include travel, lodging, caregiving and lost income.
Surgery
A mesothelioma diagnosis is overwhelming for the patient and their family members. Certain mesothelioma-related costs are covered by insurance, but many people face unexpected expenses. Living and travel expenses, medical bills and other costs related to maintaining a high quality of life while undergoing treatment are included. These additional expenses can quickly increase. Fortunately, there are several options to help mesothelioma sufferers pay for their treatment. These resources include government funding options including veterans benefits, government programs.
Mesothelioma surgery usually involves the removal of parts of the lung or pleura where cancerous cells are located. This can help reduce or eliminate symptoms and increase the survival rate. However patients must be healthy to undergo surgery. They should also be able take on the adverse effects of mesothelioma therapies.
The cost of surgery varies depending on what type of procedure the surgeon will perform and the patient's health coverage. According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), mesothelioma surgeries make up just a tiny portion of the annual costs for lung cancer. However, mesothelioma surgeries require special care and can be lengthy.
A doctor will conduct a physical examination and order imaging scans such as chest X rays or CT scans to check for abnormalities in the lungs or pleura. If the results of the test and symptoms are indicative of mesothelioma, the doctor will request a biopsy to confirm the diagnosis. A needle biopsy, thoracoscopy or other surgical procedures can be used to perform biopsies to collect tissue samples.
Another option for pleural surgery is to remove the pleura from one side of the chest. The surgeon creates an extensive opening in the chest, known as a thoracotomy and removes the affected pleura. The surgeon replaces it using a medical mesh layer. This procedure is known as EPP or pleurectomy decortication. It is also possible for surgeons to remove the lungs from place while stripping out the pleural lining, and replacing it with a specially-designed mesh layer. This is called an extended pleurectomy decortication or P/D.
Radiation therapy and chemotherapy are also options for treating mesothelioma. The average cost of a typical chemotherapy regimen that includes pemetrexed and cisplatin is about $40,000 to $50,000 for a single treatment spread over the course of a few months. The cost of radiation therapy is also high for mesothelioma. The National Cancer Institute reports that the cost of mesothelioma radiation ranges from $10,000 to $50,000 per treatment, depending on the treatment amount and the health coverage provider.
Chemotherapy
Mesothelioma patients can be confronted with a variety of unexpected costs that are difficult to anticipate. These expenses could include lodging, travel and medical expenses. These costs can add quickly and leave families with large financial burden. These costs can be offset by gaining knowledge of financial assistance options.
The cost of chemotherapy may be affected by the mesothelioma-specific treatment plan and health insurance coverage. One study found that the average cost of a mesothelioma-based first-line chemotherapy regimen is $40,000 and $50,000 annually. This includes the cost of drugs and hospitalizations in order to treat toxicity.
Other diagnostic tests like MRI and CT scans and blood tests, and biopsies are also costly. A biopsy is the only method to be able to determine the presence of mesothelioma. It requires surgeons to cut the lungs or chest wall and remove the tissue for lab testing. The cost of a biopsy can vary from $5,000 to $10,000, based on the procedure. Other diagnostic procedures, such as pleuroscopy and thoracoscopy are less invasive. However, they can be very expensive. They can cost up to $15,000. Patients suffering from mesothelioma typically require multiple MRIs and CT scans in order to determine the extent.
Medical professionals will also have to keep track of patients for signs of problems like excessive fluid accumulation. An echocardiogram and chest Xrays will help doctors determine these signs, but are typically not covered by health insurance. Other out-of-pocket expenses for mesothelioma patients can include hospital stays to drain excess fluid from the lungs or pleural spaces.
The treatment for mesothelioma radiation therapy is not a costly treatment, as it is very similar to lung cancer radiation treatments and is generally covered by the majority of health insurance plans. However certain mesothelioma drugs or treatments aren't accessible to the general public and can have a much higher price tag than traditional treatments. These drugs are usually offered to patients via clinical research trials or advanced treatment centers.
Tracking the cost of mesothelioma diagnosis and treatment could aid patients in understanding what they will have to pay for each stage of their treatment. They can then make informed choices regarding their medical treatment and financial options for financial assistance.
Radiation Therapy
The radiation procedure is usually the last stage of many mesothelioma treatment. This procedure is able to kill any remaining cancer cells and improve a patient's prognosis. The therapy can be used as a stand-alone treatment or in conjunction with other treatments like surgery and chemotherapy. Patients should discuss the costs of radiation with their physicians and mesothelioma treatment and prognosis inquire for more information regarding what to expect.
Other medical expenses can also be incurred by those suffering from mesothelioma. These costs can include mesothelioma-specific prescriptions, tests and doctor's visits. Based on the individual and their treatment plan, these expenses can quickly mount up.
According to a study carried out by the National Institute of Health in 2014, hospital expenses for mesothelioma patients were relatively high. The annual average hospital cost for lung cancers including mesothelioma was US$41,709,687. This included inpatient care, ambulatory services as well as outpatient services.
Mesothelioma victims should always talk with their physicians regarding their specific needs and concerns. This can cut down on costs, as it can prevent a patient from having unnecessary or duplicate procedures performed. Doctors can also offer advice for patients on how to save money by locating the most affordable prices for prescriptions and discounts.
Brand name medicines like Alimta and Cisplatin are the most common drugs used for mesothelioma treatment. The cost of these medicines will vary based on the amount of rounds and the type of treatment a patient receiving.
Surgical costs are also expensive. Patients with mesothelioma of the pleural are usually required to undergo a more intensive surgery than lung cancer patients. This means that surgeons will need to make larger incisions and employ more aggressive techniques, which could result in more expensive cost.
As a result of the high-cost nature of mesothelioma, many victims will be faced with financial hardships. In addition to the huge medical bills mesothelioma patients will be required to pay for living expenses that are not included in the insurance. This could include childcare, transportation and lodging. It can also be difficult for mesothelioma victims to work, which can hinder their ability to pay these expenses. This is why it is important for victims to be aware of their rights to compensation.
Other Treatments
Mesothelioma treatments can include other treatments to fight cancer, depending on the patient's condition. These might include chemotherapy, which uses cancer-fighting drugs to shrink tumors and kill them; radiation therapy, which uses high-energy X rays or particles to destroy mesothelioma cells as well as targeted therapy, which attacks mesothelioma tumor cells with specific molecules, without harming healthy tissues.
These treatments can be used by doctors to help extend the life expectancy of a patient, ease symptoms, and improve their quality of life. These treatments for cancer are part of a multimodal treatment plan, which includes chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation therapy.
If a patient suffers from peritoneal sarcoidosis(PS), a surgeon may use an interdisciplinary treatment and surgery called heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC). HIPEC is a specialized procedure where doctors inject chemotherapy drugs to the abdomen to directly target tumors. This treatment has helped many patients become mesothelioma survivors and prolong their lives.
Photodynamic therapy can also be utilized by doctors to treat cancer of the pleural region. This treatment utilizes a particular drug that makes tumors sensitive to the body's natural defenses. It can shrink the size of tumors or even cause them to dissolve.
A procedure called thoracoscopic pleurodesis can be used to eliminate pleural effusions or pleural fluids. This procedure involves the small tube through the chest wall in order to drain the excess fluid and then sealing it using medical-grade Talc.
A patient's mesothelioma team is likely to include a general physician or asbestos specialist or mesothelioma physician; chest surgeon or pulmonologist, who diagnoses and treats mesothelioma. Also included are radiologists who interpret diagnostic scans as well as radiation oncologists. Patients should consider the possibility of participating in clinical trials with their mesothelioma doctor.
Since mesothelioma is a rare cancer and rare, there are a few doctors who have expertise treating it. The top mesothelioma lawyers have access the most renowned experts in this field and can suggest the most appropriate mesothelioma specialist for each case. They can also aid patients and their families in getting the compensation they deserve in order to cover mesothelioma-related expenses. These funds can be used to cover medical expenses and provide support for the family in the event that the patient dies of mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease.