The Cost of Mesothelioma Treatment
Treatment for mesothelioma can be expensive. Patients must have a clear understanding of the coverage of their health insurance and keep track of all medical expenses.
Private health insurance and Medicare typically cover a large portion of the costs of mesothelioma treatment. There are financial assistance programs that could assist. Other expenses include travel, lodging, caregiving, and lost income.
Surgery
A mesothelioma diagnosis is overwhelming for patients and their families. Insurance covers some costs, but many patients face unexpected costs. Living and travel expenses, medical bills and other costs associated with maintaining quality of life when undergoing treatment are covered. These additional costs can quickly increase. Fortunately, there are several options available to help mesothelioma sufferers pay for their treatment. These include government programs, funding options, and veterans benefits.
Mesothelioma surgery typically involves removing portions of the lung or pleura, where cancer cells are located. This can help reduce or eliminate symptoms and increase the survival rate. Patients must be healthy enough to undergo surgery. They should also be able manage the side effects of mesothelioma therapies.
The cost of surgery is contingent on the type of surgery performed by the surgeon and the patient’s insurance coverage. According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI) mesothelioma surgeries comprise only a small portion of the total annual costs for lung cancer. Mesothelioma treatment is often lengthy and requires specialized attention.
A doctor will conduct a physical examination and request imaging scans like chest X rays or CT scans to check for abnormalities in the lungs or pleura. If the symptom and test results suggest mesothelioma the doctor will recommend biopsy to confirm the diagnosis. A needle biopsy, thoracoscopy or other surgical procedures can be used to perform biopsies in order to obtain tissues samples.
Another option for pleural cancer surgery is to remove the pleura from one side of the chest. The surgeon makes a large chest wound, referred to as a « thoracotomy » and then removes the affected tissue. The surgeon replaces it with a medical mesh. This operation is called pleurectomy decortication or EPP. A surgeon can leave the lungs unharmed by removing the pleural membrane. This is then replaced by a mesh layer. This is referred to as an extended pleurectomy decortication or P/D.
The use of chemotherapy and radiation therapy are also options for treating mesothelioma. The average cost for an average cisplatin-pemetrexed chemotherapy regimen is between $40,000 and $50,000 per treatment over several months. The treatment for mesothelioma with radiation is also expensive. Treatment for mesothelioma by radiation is also expensive. According to the National Cancer Institute, the cost of radiation therapy can vary between $10,000 and $50,000 based on the quantity and type of treatment.
Chemotherapy
Many unexpected costs can be incurred by victims of mesothelioma, which is difficult to forecast. These expenses could include lodging, travel and medical expenses. These costs can quickly accumulate and leave families with a heavy financial burden. The cost can be reduced by understanding available financial assistance options.
The cost of chemotherapy may be affected by the mesothelioma-specific treatment regimen and health insurance coverage. However, one study found that the typical cost of a mesothelioma first-line chemotherapy regimen was around $40,000-$50,000 per year which includes the cost of medication and hospitalizations for managing toxicity.
Another major expense associated with mesothelioma is the cost of additional diagnostic tests, including MRI and CT scans, blood tests and biopsies. A biopsy is the only method to confirm the diagnosis of mesothelioma. It requires a surgeon to cut into the lungs or chest wall and extract tissues for laboratory tests. The cost of a biopsy can range between $5,000 and $10,000 based on the procedure. Other diagnostic procedures, such as thoracoscopy or pleuroscopy are less invasive, but they can be expensive, ranging up to $15,000. Mesothelioma patients typically require multiple MRI and CT scans to determine the extent of the disease.
Medical professionals also need to keep track of patients for signs of problems such as excessive fluid accumulation. Echocardiograms and chest X-rays will help doctors determine the signs, but they are not usually covered by health insurance. Hospital stays to drain excess liquid from the pleural and lungs are a different expense for mesothelioma patients.
Radiation therapy for mesothelioma is not a costly treatment, as it is very similar to lung cancer radiation therapies and is usually covered by the majority of health insurance plans. Certain experimental mesothelioma treatments or medicines aren’t available to the general public and can be much more expensive than conventional treatments. These medications are typically offered to patients through clinical research trials or advanced treatment centers.
Monitoring the cost of a diagnosis as well as treatment for mesothelioma will help patients to understand how much they will be expected to pay at each stage of their care. They can then make informed decisions regarding their medical treatment and financial aid options.
Radiation Therapy
The last step in a lot of mesothelioma treatment protocols is radiation. This procedure is able to eliminate any remaining cancer cells and improve the patient’s chances of survival. Radiation therapy can be used on its own or with other treatments such as surgery and chemotherapy. Patients should ask their doctor about the cost of radiation and 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. Depending on the patient and their treatment plan, these costs can add up quickly.
According to a study conducted by the National Institute of Health in 2014, the costs of hospitalization for mesothelioma patients were relatively high. The total annual average hospital cost for lung cancers, including mesothelioma, was US$41,709,687. This included inpatient care, ambulatory services and outpatient services.
Patients with mesothelioma must always discuss their concerns and needs with their doctors. This can help reduce expenses by avoiding unnecessary or redundant procedures. Doctors can also provide advice for patients on how to save money by finding the best prescription prices and discounts.
The most commonly used drugs for mesothelioma are brand name medications such as Alimta or Cisplatin. The cost of these drugs can vary based on the number of rounds and type of treatment the patient is receiving.
The costs of surgery can be expensive. Patients with mesothelioma are generally required to undergo a more intense surgery than lung cancer patients. This could result in surgeons having to use more invasive techniques and make larger incisions, which can increase the cost.
Due to the high cost mesothelioma sufferers, many will be faced with financial hardships. Aside from hefty medical bills, mesothelioma victims will likely also be liable for additional living expenses. This may include childcare, transportation and accommodation. Mesothelioma patients might also find it difficult to work, which could affect their ability to pay for these costs. It is therefore important that victims are aware of their rights to be compensated.
Other Treatments
Based on the condition of a patient, mesothelioma treatment may include other treatments to fight cancer. pleural mesothelioma alternative treatment could include chemotherapy, which makes use of cancer-fighting drugs to shrink tumors and kill them radiation therapy, which uses high-energy X-rays or particles that kill mesothelioma cancer cells as well as targeted therapy, which attacks mesothelioma tumor cells with specific molecules, without harming healthy tissues.
Mesothelioma specialists may use these treatments in addition to prolong a patient’s life expectancy, as well as help relieve symptoms and improve the quality of life. These cancer treatments can be part of a multimodality treatment plan, which includes chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation therapy.
If a patient suffers from peritoneal Sarcoidosis, surgeons may opt for an interdisciplinary treatment and surgery known as heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC). HIPEC is an advanced procedure where doctors inject cancer-fighting drugs into the abdomen to directly target the tumors. This treatment has helped a lot of mesothelioma patients remain healthy and live longer.
Photodynamic therapy can also be utilized by doctors to treat cancer of the pleural region. This treatment uses a special medication to make tumors more sensitive to the body’s natural defenses. It can shrink the size of tumors or even cause them to disappear.
A procedure called thoracoscopic pleurodesis can also be used to drain pleural fluids or effusions. This procedure involves inserting a tiny tube through the chest wall to drain any excess fluid, and then sealing it with medical-grade talc.
The mesothelioma treatment team for a patient is likely to include a general physician or asbestos specialist or mesothelioma doctor; a chest surgeon or pulmonologist who diagnoses and treats mesothelioma. Additionally, there is a radiologist who interprets diagnostic scans as well as a radiation oncologist. Patients should discuss clinical trials with their mesothelioma specialists.
A few doctors have treated mesothelioma as it is so rare. The top mesothelioma lawyers are able to access the most renowned experts in this field and can recommend the right mesothelioma specialist for each case. They can also help patients and their families secure the compensation they deserve for mesothelioma related expenses. These funds can be used to pay for medical expenses as well as provide assistance for the family in the event that the patient dies due to mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease.
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