Financial hardship is a major source of stress that can put a dent in the wellbeing of even the healthiest among us. If that financial stress is the result of a mesothelioma diagnosis, the effects can be even more serious. At a time when all your attention should be on taking care of your health, the strain of a huge pile of medical bills can lead to less favorable outcomes from mesothelioma treatment.

Many people who receive a mesothelioma diagnosis were not rolling in cash even before they became sick. Asbestos exposure is most common among those who worked hard all their lives as builders, welders, and engineers to create a comfortable life for their families. A mesothelioma diagnosis can mean not only a mounting stack of medical bills but also lost wages for both the patient and family caregivers, which can throw the whole family into financial distress.

People who have received a mesothelioma diagnosis have one financial resource that not all cancer patients do. Because mesothelioma is caused by asbestos exposure, patients are often able to get compensation for their illness from the corporations that negligently exposed them to asbestos. But more on that later. First, let’s take a look at the toll that financial stress takes on people with a mesothelioma diagnosis.

Finances Linked to Outcomes After a Mesothelioma Diagnosis

In 2009, the Association of Oncology Social Work (AOSW) surveyed patients, caregivers, and social workers about the effects of financial stress on recovery from cancer. The results showed that patients who struggled under the financial burden of their medical bills were less able to direct their attention to cancer treatment.

In addition, the study found that 66% of the cancer patients who were burdened by medical bills became depressed. While depression is not uncommon after a mesothelioma diagnosis (or any cancer diagnosis), the additional stress created by financial hardship increases the chances of depression. This is significant because some studies have shown that depression can affect parts of our immune system that may help our bodies fight off cancer.

Of even more concern, the AOSW study found that 29% of cancer patients who suffered from financial stress put off getting prescriptions filled and 22% skipped taking needed medications to stretch out a prescription for longer.

The patients affirmed the study’s conclusion that financial strain gets in the way of cancer treatment. More than half of those surveyed reported that the effort to stay on top of their medical bills made them less able to attend to their cancer treatment and recovery. The last thing you need after a mesothelioma diagnosis is anything that distracts you from focusing completely on getting the best treatment to fight back against this debilitating cancer.

Money, Depression, and a Mesothelioma Diagnosis

A 2012 study of patients in Ireland (where, it should be noted, there is a public health program that insulates patients from enormous medical bills) showed increased levels of stress about money in almost half of cancer patients. The study, published in Psycho-Oncology in April 2013, surveyed people with lung cancer, as well as breast and prostate cancers, more than six months after their first diagnosis with cancer. Researchers found that those who reported financial hardship due to their cancers were three times more likely to suffer from depression.

This study concluded that Ireland should do more to relieve the financial strain on families affected by cancer. In the United States, the Affordable Care Act has relieved one common source of stress for cancer patients: insurance companies can no longer place a lifetime or annual cap on coverage. If you receive a mesothelioma diagnosis, you don’t have to worry that your insurance will simply run out and stop paying the bills. You can still accumulate large bills, however, for treatments not covered by your insurance plan and for copayments.

Types of Financial Stress After a Mesothelioma Diagnosis

A study funded by the UK Medical Research Council that surveyed research on financial stress associated with terminal cancer noted that this is an area that needs more scientific study. Among the conclusions in their manuscript titled Financial stress and strain associated with terminal cancer – A systematic review of the evidence, the researchers noted that addressing the effects of financial stress should be considered part of palliative care for patients with a terminal cancer diagnosis.

Patients indicated that they would appreciate a discussion about finances with their healthcare professionals, though the researchers also admitted that this type of conversation is outside the expertise of most medical workers. They highlighted the fact that, now that the medical profession has become more upfront about discussing a terminal mesothelioma diagnosis, “it may be that money remains a final taboo.”

The review included summaries of a number of studies from the United States. Some key findings from those studies include:

• Up to 28% of patients with terminal cancer spent more than 10% of their income on their treatment.
• As many as 16% had to spend their savings, sell their possessions, take out an extra mortgage, or get an extra job to cover medical costs.
• As many as 38% more reported spending all or most of their savings to pay for cancer care.
• A family member quit a job to care for the person with cancer at least 20% of the time (and more than 40% of the time, in one study), creating even greater financial hardship.
• About a quarter of patients with terminal cancer lost a major income source due to their illness.
• Up to 20% of patients weren’t able to get all their needs met (from medical expenses to other costs due to the illness to day to day expenses) during their last month of life.
• One third of patients said that their overall financial stability was affected by the costs of their medical care.

 Relieving Financial Stress After a Mesothelioma Diagnosis

These studies show the importance of taking worries about money out of the picture after you receive a mesothelioma diagnosis. Negative effects from financial stress can lead to shorter life expectancy for patients with mesothelioma. You want to maximize the time you have left to spend with your loved ones and to make sure you spend your days in the best health possible.

That’s where mesothelioma lawyers can help. Your medical care is in good hands with your doctors; your financial health can be greatly improved with help from an experienced asbestos attorney. The compensation you may receive for your illness can free your mind to concentrate on fighting back against mesothelioma. It can also support your family after you are gone. Call today for a free consultation.

Mesothelioma clinical trial results were announced recently by the major American pharmaceutical company Merck and the news is good. Merck tested its new cancer-fighting drug Keytruda in 25 patients with advanced pleural mesothelioma, a fatal cancer that is caused by exposure to asbestos. Mesothelioma typically affects the cells that line the lungs but can also occur in cell linings of the abdomen and other organs.

Mesothelioma Clinical Trial Key: Blocking Cell Death Protein

In this mesothelioma clinical trial, as with the clinical trials for the 20 other difficult types of cancer being tested with Keytruda treatments, the key mechanism involves Keytruda’s ability to block an immune-suppressing protein called PD-1.

Keytruda, Merck’s registered trademark name for pembrolizumab, is part of a new class of drugs that is proving to be effective at blocking PD-1. Blocking PD-1 gives the body’s own immune system the opportunity it needs to attack tumors and stop the spread of cancer.

Mesothelioma Clinical Trial Results

The early findings for Merck’s mesothelioma clinical trial with Keytruda showed an overall response rate (confirmed and unconfirmed) of 28 percent in patients with tumors that expressed PD-1. Additionally, 48 percent of patients had stable disease, resulting in an overall disease control rate of 76 percent. At the time of Merck’s report, 40 percent of patients – 10 out of 25 were still receiving the treatment.

These Keytruda mesothelioma clinical trial results are being presented at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting by Dr. Evan Alley, Abramson Cancer Center, University of Pennsylvania, and also were highlighted in the AACR’s official press conference.

“This presentation at AACR marks the first time that data involving an anti-PD-1 therapy have been presented in pleural mesothelioma, which is a hard-to-treat cancer with very limited treatment options,” said Dr. Alley, clinical associate professor of medicine, Abramson Cancer Center. “While early, the disease control rates observed in this study are very encouraging, and indicate that further study is warranted to evaluate the potential role of Keytruda in the treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma.”

It is worth noting that the mesothelioma clinical trial results reported that no mesothelioma patients discontinued Keytruda due to negative side effects, and there were no treatment-related deaths.

Mesothelioma Clinical Trial Ushers In New Era in Cancer Treatment

Mesothelioma clinical trial results until now have typically generated favorable or unfavorable scientific results that were limited only to the treatment of mesothelioma. With an innovative approach that recognizes that some of the basic processes for cancer are similar across all types of cancers and that a treatment for one cancer can be effective in many types, Merck has undertaken a new vast clinical trial program for Keytruda that includes more than 85 simultaneous clinical trials – encompassing over 30 tumor types and over 14,000 patients – both as the sole type of treatment and in combination with other therapies.

The results from the Keytruda mesothelioma clinical trial will not only help mesothelioma patients but will contribute to an important new body of vital knowledge on the treatment of all types of cancer through the PD-1 inhibitor mechanism.

PD-1 pathway inhibitors show the potential to “change the landscape of cancer immunotherapy,” an article in the journal Cancer Control stated just in the last year. “The PD-1/PD-L1 pathway in cancer is implicated in tumors escaping immune destruction and is a promising therapeutic target. The development of anti-PD-1 and anti-PD-L1 agents marks a new era in the treatment of cancer with immunotherapies,” the article predicted.

Now with the promising results shown in the Keytruda mesothelioma clinical trial and also in a Keytruda melanoma clinical trial, reported in the New England Journal of Medicine, that new era in cancer treatment may at long last finally be here.

Mesothelioma costs need to be considered, unfortunately, almost as soon as you get your diagnosis. Treatments can be expensive and your mesothelioma costs can add up quickly. You can get help paying for mesothelioma treatment from your health insurance provider, Medicare, Medicaid, and possibly from financial assistance programs if needed. Once you and your physician have decided on a treatment plan, you will should gather information and map out a financial plan. Being prepared for your financial share of the cost of your treatment is important. Your lawyer can help by explaining when settlement funds may be expected.

Mesothelioma Cost Factors

Your mesothelioma costs won’t be exactly the same as another patient’s because your treatment plan will be tailored just to you. It’s good to get an estimate of the cost in advance of treatment, but keep in mind that things can change as your illness progresses. Blood tests, imaging, respiratory therapy, and additional medications may drive up costs. Many factors will influence the cost of your mesothelioma treatment – here are the major ones:

• Type of Treatments: Surgery, Radiation, Chemotherapy, Biological Therapy
• Duration of Treatment: Total Amount of Time Needed To Complete Treatment
• Frequency of Treatments: How Often Treatments Are Scheduled
• Treatment Setting: Home, Clinic, Hospital

How Health Insurance Can Help

Your health insurance, Medicare, Medicaid or private, should pay for most of your mesothelioma costs. Call your insurance provider and tell them your diagnosis and treatment plan, then ask about details of your coverage, deductibles, premiums, and co-payments. Speak to the financial director at your oncology clinic and make sure they accept your type of insurance. If it’s going to be a stretch to pay all the bills, ask about payment plans and financial assistance.

Ask about coverage for second opinions from health professionals outside the plan. If the answer is “no”, talk to your lawyer about options.

Negotiating Health Care Liens for Mesothelioma Costs

Keep in mind that if you have filed a personal injury lawsuit against those who exposed you to asbestos and caused your mesothelioma – and I hope you have – then your health care provider will expect to be reimbursed for your mesothelioma costs from your settlement.

Contact your attorney and have them negotiate the medical bills for you. That is what we do for our clients. We make sure by going through the medical bills line by line that our clients do not get stuck with bills that have been inflated in anticipation of a settlement or are for unrelated matters. We also remind the medical providers that they are required by law to help pay the legal costs of obtaining a settlement for reimbursement. This often leads to a reduction in medical bills that we always pass along to our client. From a starting point of medical expenses that initially could total over $100,000, our client may wind up paying only $30,000 – $50,000.

How the Affordable Care Act Can Boost Insurance Coverage

The Affordable Care Act may improve insurance coverage of your mesothelioma costs. The law:

• Requires health plans to cover people with a pre-existing condition such as cancer
• Makes cancer screening tests available at little or no cost to patients
• Prohibits insurance plans from canceling coverage if patient gets sick
• Prohibits insurance plans from charging sick people – including those with cancer – more for coverage than healthy people
• Prohibits annual and lifetime dollar limits on the amount of a patient’s care the plan will pay for
• Requires insurers to provide current policyholders and people shopping for coverage with a short and simple summary of their coverage
• Makes sure that patients who take part in clinical trials are covered for their other health needs
• Helps individuals with low or moderate incomes buy health insurance

How to Get Additional Financial Help

Even if you have health insurance, you may still need some financial help with treatment and prescription co-pays. Knowing whom to ask for that help is one way to get started. Speak with the financial director at your oncology clinic about payment programs, financial aid, and local organizations that may help with mesothelioma treatment costs. Your doctor is a good resource to check with about clinical trials, which may be available at no cost to you. At the hospital, check with their social worker to learn what financial assistance resources they may offer.

Bottom Line on Mesothelioma Costs

There’s no doubt that mesothelioma is a costly disease to treat. But even if cost appears to be a barrier to treatment, seek help – don’t skip the treatment. The longer you go without treatment after a mesothelioma diagnosis, the more expensive it will be to treat. To make a little easier on your health, your family, and your budget – prepare to meet the costs of mesothelioma treatment by knowing your treatment plan, understanding your health insurance, and seeking help with the cost of care. Your life is priceless so take these steps now.

A mesothelioma medical treatment power of attorney is important to have in place. This document is officially called the durable power of attorney for health care. You may have already set up a power of attorney to designate someone to make financial and legal decisions on your behalf. This is different.

Specifying who will carry out your end-of-life wishes for mesothelioma medical treatment and exactly what your wishes are comprise the two main components of an advanced care directive. Your estate planning attorney’s services should include preparation of these forms.

Who Will Make Mesothelioma Medical Treatment Power of Attorney Decisions for You?

The person you select as your power of attorney for mesothelioma medical treatment will step in to make decisions when you no longer can. This person is considered your agent. Most people name a spouse, partner, relative, or close friend as their agent. In California and other states, your agent cannot be:

• your health care provider
• an employee of your health care provider, unless the individual is your registered domestic partner or is related to you by blood, marriage or adoption — or you and the employee both work for your health care provider

How to Decide Who Should Be Your Power of Attorney for Mesothelioma Medical Treatment

When deciding who will be your agent for your power of attorney as your mesothelioma progresses, keep in mind that the most vital qualities needed are trustworthiness and dependability. You should also choose someone you think will be able to defend your mesothelioma treatment wishes if others argue against them — someone who would be persistent and calm under pressure.

It is also important to make sure that the person you name is willing and able to travel to your bedside if necessary.

Best Ways to Help Prepare Whoever You Choose As Your Power of Attorney

Your agent will have to start making mesothelioma health care decisions for you if and when you are no longer able to do so. This can be stressful for him or her. There are steps you can take now to lessen the emotional strain.

Collect the information needed for decision-making. Talk to your doctor, oncologist and surgeon now to start understanding your options for mesothelioma treatment at the end of life. Organizations such as your local hospice also may have useful information.

Discuss your end-of-life choices with your agent. As difficult as it is, have a conversation about your decisions with your designated agent and make sure he or she feels prepared to carry out your wishes.

Some questions to discuss:

• Are there any medical treatments for mesothelioma you want or do not want?
• When you are dying, do you want to be in a nursing home, hospital or at home?
• What options for pain management and hospice care do you want pursued on your behalf?

Inform people of your preferences. Tell your doctor, family and close friends about your end-of-life wishes so they will understand and respect your agent’s actions on your behalf. Keep a copy of your signed completed advance health care directive in a safe logical place that is easily accessible.

Give a copy of your form to:

• The person you appoint as your agent and any alternate designated agents
• Your primary care physician
• Your other health care providers
• The health care institution that is providing your care
• Family members and close friends