Sadly, there’s no cure for mesothelioma, the cancerous condition caused by exposure to asbestos, but there are treatments available aimed at prolonging life. Unfortunately, these treatments can be expensive. If you or a loved one are dealing with a mesothelioma diagnosis right now, then you might be worried about what these costs mean for your family’s short-term and long-term financial stability. To help give you a little bit of insight into the costs that you might be facing, let’s look at some of the most common ways that this condition is treated.
- Chemotherapy: This type of treatment uses potent medicines made of chemicals that target cells that quickly grow and multiply in your body. Chemotherapy can be powerful, but it can also be costly, coming in at as much as $40,000 per mesothelioma-related treatment.
- Radiation therapy: Here, high doses of radiation are used to shrink tumors and kill certain cancer cells. A single radiation treatment for a cancer affecting the lungs may run as much as $9,000.
- Immunotherapy: With this type of treatment, you’re given medications that aim to strengthen your own immune response, so that your body is better suited to fight the cancer. This treatment can be enormously expensive, coming in at more than $250,000 for a year of treatment.
- Surgery: A surgical operation can lead to the removal of large swaths of cancerous growths, but it, too, can be expensive, reaching as much as $25,000 or more per operation.
Keep in mind, too, that the exact costs of your treatment are going to depend in large part on the circumstances of your case. The advancement of your mesothelioma, where the cancer is located, and your body’s response to certain treatments can play a large role. You’ll also want to carefully consider what kind of treatment you’re willing to undergo, as quality of life may be an important factor for you to consider, too.
Paying for needed medical care
Although your insurance policy may cover many of your medical expenses, most mesothelioma patients are still left with out-of-pocket costs. These expenses can quickly mount, leaving you and your family financially overwhelmed. What can you do about it?
There may be several ways for you to tackle the costs of your medical treatment. For example, depending on your circumstances, you may be able to qualify for Social Security Disability benefits. If you’re a veteran, then you may be able to obtain cheaper care through the VA system. Certain charities may be able to help you with your bills, too, and participating in clinical trials may get you free care.
What about legal action?
Legal action is also a viable option for many mesothelioma sufferers. While there are many mesothelioma trust funds out there, you’re still going to have to present a case as to why you should be awarded compensation. An attorney can help you build your case, and as you’re waiting for your claim to play out, you might be able to negotiate a hospital lien with your health care provider. This agreement will essentially put a hold on your medical bills until your case resolves, at which time you’ll have to pay the hospital and your doctor in full.