The Cost of Mesothelioma Treatment

The treatment for mesothelioma is expensive. Patients must be aware of their health insurance coverage and keep the track of all medical expenses.

Medicare and private health insurance generally cover a large portion of these expenses. There are financial assistance programs that can assist. Other expenses include travel, lodging, caregiving, and lost income.

Surgery

Patients and their families are overwhelmed by the mesothelioma diagnosis. Insurance covers some costs, but many sufferers face unexpected expenses. Travel and living expenses, medical bills and other costs related to maintaining quality of life when undergoing treatment are covered. These expenses can quickly add up. Fortunately, there are several resources available to help mesothelioma patients pay for their treatment. These resources include government programs, funding options and veterans benefits.

Mesothelioma surgery typically involves removing portions of the lung or pleura, where cancer cells are situated. This can lessen or reduce symptoms and improve the chance of survival. However patients must be healthy to undergo surgery. They must also be able to cope with the adverse effects of mesothelioma treatment.

The cost of surgery depends on the type of surgery performed by the surgeon as well as the patient's insurance coverage. According to the National Cancer Institute, mesothelioma surgery makes up a small percentage of the annual hospital costs for lung malignancies. However, mesothelioma treatment requires specialized care and can be long.

A doctor mesothelioma treatments will conduct physical examinations and may request imaging scans like chest X-rays or CT scans to determine abnormalities in the pleura and lungs. If the test results and symptoms suggest mesothelioma, the doctor will recommend a biopsy to confirm the diagnosis. A needle biopsy, thoracoscopy or other surgical procedures can be used to perform biopsies to obtain tissues samples.

Another option for pleural cancer surgery is to remove the pleura from one side of the chest. The surgeon creates a huge chest wound, referred to as a "thoracotomy" and then removes the affected tissue. The surgeon replaces it using a medical mesh. This procedure is referred to as EPP or pleurectomy decortication. The surgeon may also leave the lungs intact by removing the pleural membrane. The lining is then replaced by mesh. This is referred to as an extended pleurectomy décortication or P/D.

Other mesothelioma treatments are chemotherapy and radiation therapy. The average cost for a standard cisplatin and pemetrexed chemotherapy regimen is between $40,000 and $50,000 for a treatment spread over a period of time. Radiation therapy for mesothelioma is also expensive. The National Cancer Institute reports that the cost of mesothelioma radiation ranges between $10,000 and $50,000 per treatment, based on the amount of treatment required and the health insurance provider.

Chemotherapy

A variety of unexpected costs could be incurred by patients suffering from mesothelioma, which are difficult to anticipate. These expenses can include medication, travel and lodging costs during treatment. These costs can add up quickly, leaving families with a significant financial burden. These costs can be offset by gaining knowledge of financial assistance options.

The cost of chemotherapy could be affected by the mesothelioma-specific treatment plan and health insurance coverage. A study has found that the average cost of a mesothelioma first-line chemotherapy regimen ranges from $40,000 and $50,000 annually. This includes costs for drugs and hospitalizations to treat toxicities.

Another significant expense of mesothelioma is the cost of additional diagnostic tests, including MRI and CT scans biopsies, blood tests and biopsy. A biopsy is the most reliable method of diagnosing mesothelioma. A surgeon will cut the chest wall, or lungs and remove the tissues for laboratory testing. The cost of a biopsy could range from $5,000 to $10,000 depending on the procedure. Other diagnostic procedures, such as pleuroscopy and thoracoscopy are less invasive. However, they can be very expensive. They can cost anywhere from $3,000 to $15,000. Patients with mesothelioma often require multiple MRIs and CT scans to determine the severity.

Medical specialists will also have to keep track of patients throughout the treatment process for indications of complications, mesothelioma treatments like excessive fluid buildup. 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 epithelial mesothelioma treatment patients can include hospitalization to flush excess fluid from the lungs or pleural spaces.

Treatment for mesothelioma with radiation isn't a costly treatment, since it's very similar to lung cancer radiation therapies and is generally covered by most health insurance plans. Some experimental mesothelioma treatments or medications are not yet available to the general public and can be much more expensive than conventional treatments. These treatments are usually provided to patients through clinical research trials or advanced treatment centers.

The costs associated with a diagnosis and treatment for mesothelioma can help patients understand how much they'll have to pay at each stage of their treatment. They can then make informed choices regarding their medical treatment and financial aid options.

Radiation Therapy

Radiation is often the final step of many mesothelioma treatments. This procedure is able to eradicate any remaining cancerous cells and improve the prognosis of a patient. Radiation therapy can be used on its own or with other treatments such as surgery and chemotherapy. Patients should discuss the costs of radiation with their doctors and request more information about what to expect.

Mesothelioma patients could have a variety of medical expenses too. These can include mesothelioma specific prescriptions as well as doctor's appointments and tests. Depending on the individual and their treatment plan, these expenses can add up quickly.

According to an 2014 National Institute of Health (NIH) study, mesothelioma per-patient hospital costs were quite high. The annual average hospital cost for lung cancers, including mesothelioma, was US$41,709,687. This included inpatient care, ambulatory services and outpatient services.

Mesothelioma victims should always talk to their doctor about their particular requirements and concerns. This can reduce expenses by avoiding unnecessary or duplicate procedures. Doctors can also offer advice for patients on how to reduce costs by finding the best prices for prescriptions and discounts.

The most common drugs for mesothelioma are generic medications such as Alimta or Cisplatin. The cost of these drugs may differ depending on the amount of treatments a patient receives and the type of mesothelioma treatment that they are receiving will impact on their overall cost.

The costs for surgery are also costly. Pleural mesothelioma is more serious than lung cancer and requires a more intensive surgery. This means that surgeons will need to make larger incisions and use more intensive techniques, which could result in more expensive costs.

Many patients will face major financial strains due to the high cost of mesothelioma. In addition to the huge medical bills, patients of mesothelioma may also have to pay additional expenses for living. This could include childcare costs accommodation, transportation, and childcare. It can also be difficult for mesothelioma treatment center patients to find work, which could affect their ability to pay these costs. This is why it is crucial for mesothelioma victims to understand their rights to compensation.

Other Treatments

Mesothelioma treatment options may include other treatments to fight cancer, dependent on the condition of the patient. Radiation therapy or X-rays with high energy can be used to destroy mesothelioma tumor cells.

These additional treatments may be used by doctors to help prolong the life of a patient, relieve symptoms, and improve their quality of life. These treatments for cancer are part of a multimodality treatment plan that incorporates chemotherapy, surgery and radiation therapy.

For example in the case of peritoneal mesothelioma A surgeon could use a combination of surgical and treatments known as cytoreduction heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC). HIPEC is a highly advanced procedure that involves injecting cancer-fighting drugs directly into the abdomen to attack the tumors. This treatment has helped a lot of patients recover from mesothelioma and extend their lives.

Doctors may also opt for photodynamic therapy to treat mesothelioma pleural. This treatment uses a special medication to make tumors more susceptible to the body's natural defenses. It may reduce the size of tumors, or even cause them to dissolve.

A procedure known as thoracoscopic pleuralodesis can be used to drain pleural fluids or effusions. This procedure involves small tube through the chest wall to drain fluid that is not needed, and then sealing it using medical-grade Talc.

A patient's mesothelioma care team may also comprise a general practitioner, an asbestos specialist or mesothelioma doctor and a pulmonologist or chest surgeon who treats and diagnoses mesothelioma an radiologist who interprets diagnostic scans and a medical doctor or radiation oncologist. Patients should consider the possibility of participating in clinical trials with their mesothelioma specialist.

Since mesothelioma is a rare cancer, few doctors have expertise treating stage 1 mesothelioma it. 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 assist patients and their family members in obtaining the compensation they deserve for mesothelioma-related expenses. The funds can pay for medical bills and assist families in the event that a patient passes away from mesothelioma, or another asbestos-related illness.