Mesothelioma is one of the deadliest cancers. Any cancer could prove fatal if it progresses far enough before someone seeks treatment. However, mesothelioma is currently incurable and spreads quickly after a diagnosis.
Patients with mesothelioma undergo treatments to slow the progression of the disease and improve the quality of their life after their diagnosis. Although mesothelioma starts in the organ linings, it will eventually metastasize and spread to other parts of the body. No current medical treatment can fully stop this process.
Immunotherapies are a promising option for those trying to fight after their diagnosis of mesothelioma, and they are a reason why workers exposed to mesothelioma may need to make a compensation claim.
Immunotherapies are cutting-edge medical technology
For decades, there have been two primary approaches to treating cancer or malignant tumors. One is to excise the affected tissue through surgery. The other involves applying radiation or chemotherapy to kill or shrink the cancer while simultaneously causing damage to the rest of the body as well.
Immunotherapy is different because it involves using new technology or medication to help the body better fight the cancer rather than doing the fighting itself. There are trials starting in the near future for specialized immunotherapy drugs that could help people with mesothelioma.
The biggest drawback of immunotherapy for someone with mesothelioma is that there is a good chance their health insurance won’t cover those treatments.
Immunotherapy is both new and expensive
Researchers have yet to perfect different kinds of immunotherapies, meaning that there is often no scientific validation of how effective they are in specific cases. Additionally, because of how much investment goes into researching these drugs, the treatments available to people are incredibly expensive.
A single immunotherapy medication could cost more than $100,000 a year. Procedures like bone marrow or stem cell transplants can cost a quarter of a million dollars or more. Many insurance companies will not cover these treatments at this time. For someone to connect with immunotherapy, they may need their own resources.
Bringing a compensation claim against your former employer may be one of the only ways to get enough capital to pay out-of-pocket for cutting-edge mesothelioma treatments. Reviewing your options for compensation after a diagnosis with asbestos-related mesothelioma can make getting the best medical care possible.