Costs and Expenses of Mesothelioma Treatment

Costs and Expenses of Mesothelioma Treatment

Current treatment options available for malignant mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases can unfortunately, get extremely expensive. In addition,  although the costs and expenses of treatments will vary according to the patient’s needs, the prices for treatments typically accumulate and grow higher over time for most patients. Even worse is that mesothelioma tends to progress at a quick pace despite its long latency time. This makes it even more difficult as you’re faced with mounting medical costs in a relatively short time. Educating yourself regarding the expenses of treatments and the factors involved with payments and possible financial assistance will help you better prepare financially for future costs.

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Cost and Expense Expectations

Patients typically undergo chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, and/or a combination of all in order to battle the disease and reduce the symptoms of mesothelioma. The cost of each treatment will depend upon several factors, including the type of surgery, the medications used for chemotherapy, the type of radiation therapy procedure, and more.

In most cases, extra expenses for therapeutic treatments, vitamins, and pain medications should also be considered. Diet change alone typically increases the prices of treatment as physicians will usually recommend a specialized food and vitamin plan in order to help boost the immune system.

A relatively new treatment option, mesotherapy, works by injecting natural agents into the patient’s system via a thin needle. Vitamins, medication, homeopathic agents, and natural extracts can be used. This form of treatment is still in its trial stages, so the cost of associated has not been determined.

Although these types of treatments are normally as pricey as traditional treatments, the expenses can add up, so it’s important to plan in advance as much as possible.

Surgery

A patient undergoing surgery can expect the costs to be around $39,000 or more, according to a study performed by the U.S. News and World Report; a vast difference from the costs of surgery only a decade earlier at close to $7,000. The prices, as aforementioned, will vary according to each patient. The type of surgery, the stage of the disease,  after-treatments, and follow ups will factor into the cost. Additionally, surgery for mesothelioma is still considered rare and therefore it’s difficult to pinpoint an exact price.

Another factor that will affect the cost amount is the type of surgery needed. For example, palliative surgery may have different costs when compared to curative surgery or diagnostic surgery.

Chemotherapy

The treatment costs of chemotherapy, depending upon the severity of the disease and the type of medications used can reach up to $30,000 when combining all treatment sessions together. For example, name brand medications such as Alimta or Cisplan typically don’t come with the discounts that a generic version would. In addition, some victims may require much more chemotherapy than others.

Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy costs will depend on the the severity of the disease and the type of equipment used. The more advanced the equipment usually means higher costs. According to the National Cancer Institute, most insurance plans will cover the costs of radiation, which typically runs close to $10,000.

Other Treatments and Costs to Consider

Keep in mind that the costs of treatment does not include food, lodging, home modifications, special clothing, and/or any special equipment needed. Loss of income, possibly the biggest setback for mesothelioma patients, may be covered by worker’s compensation, but is not covered in the cost of treatment.

In addition, mesothelioma patients may come to a certain point where they will need a caregiver to help with appointments, daily living care, and more. Unfortunately, some caregivers are unable to maintain a full-time job should this occur.