Mesothelioma Treatment Costs
Like all forms of malignant cancers, the overall cost of mesothelioma treatment is very expensive. A mesothelioma patient’s care may be thousands of dollars per month. The major factors affecting mesothelioma treatment costs include age, side effect of the treatment, the effects of the treatment on the overall health and the probabilities of survival, as well as the stage and severity of disease and the body parts over which the affliction has spread.
In general, mesothelioma treatment costs include fees for the physician, significant periods of hospitalization, chemotherapy, and radiation treatments. In certain occasions, the patient and family members must travel far distances to reach a facility where the best mesothelioma treatment is provided. This will incur them the additional expenses of airfare, lodging, and related travel expenses.
- Gene Therapy
Gene therapy is being explored as a possible treatment for mesothelioma. Specially prepared genetic material is injected into the cancer. This genetic material selectively attacks the cancer genes, killing the cancer. Medical scientists at the cutting edge of gene therapy for mesothelioma (such as those at the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center) say gene therapy for mesothelioma is in the experimental stage. They are cautiously optimistic that gene therapy may prove to be a useful tool in treating at least some people with mesothelioma.
Gene therapy for mesothelioma can be used with or without other types of treatment. To date, it has been more frequently employed as a supplement or follow-up to surgery. Surgery is performed to remove the bulk of the tumor. Gene therapy is used in an effort to eliminate the cancer cells that always remain after surgery for mesothelioma.
The cost of gene therapy is significant. Costs for a complete course of gene therapy for mesothelioma can range from $150,000 to $950,000.
Majority of mesothelioma diseases are directly associated to asbestos exposure. It is usually due to the willful carelessness of an employer, who does not issue the necessary warning before offering employment. Hence the liability of bearing mesothelioma treatment cost lies directly with the employer. The patient should consult an attorney who has a good idea of the cost of treatment. Mesothelioma treatment costs in such cases can be recovered easily from the employer.
Estimate shows that the medical costs associated with this type of treatment exceed $150,000. Mesothelioma treatment costs also differ depending on where the treatment is provided.
Many medical insurance plans available in the market cover mesothelioma treatment costs. Check your health insurance policy to see what sort of coverage you have.
The cost incurred in overall treatment of this tumor is almost the same as the cost involved in the treatment of other tumors. It is difficult to determine exact figures as there is variability in treatment plans, but cancer treatments can cost many thousands of dollars per month. Overall, cancer treatment, including peritoneal mesothelioma treatment, costs over $40 billion in the US each year. For a typical individual, who already has been victimized by this dreadful disease, the treatment costs can prove to very expensive and unaffordable. If you have been diagnosed and are suffering from peritoneal mesothelioma, it is advisable to consult a peritoneal mesothelioma lawyer, who can guide you as to your legal rights and how you can recover compensation from the party responsible for your exposure to asbestos. An expert lawyer can help you recover compensation for bills, lost wages, and punitive damages, which can go up to millions of dollars.
