May 22, 2013 – There are an estimated 3,000 new cases of mesothelioma diagnosed each year in the United States. Receiving a diagnosis of mesothelioma is devastating for patients and their families. While these patients should be focusing all their attention and energy on finding the right mesothelioma specialist and determining what treatment options are best suited for them, the financial burden of paying for this can be overwhelming. Physicians are now starting to speak out regarding the high prices that are placed on cancer drugs, including those to treat mesothelioma, and the inability of some patients to afford them. The Philadelphia mesothelioma attorneys at Shein Law support the work of these doctors who are advocating for the rights of cancer patients to access to lifesaving medical treatment options.
Mesothelioma: Affordability of Treatment is Challenging for Many Patients
Mesothelioma, an aggressive cancer caused by an exposure to asbestos, is financially expensive to treat. A patient will typically begin immediate treatment which can consist of a combination of surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, alternative therapies and participation in clinical trials. While some patients may have health insurance, Medicare or Medicaid to provide some financial assistance with the overwhelming costs, many people simply do not have the financial means to pursue all available treatments and therapies. Because there currently is no cure for mesothelioma, the lack of finances is particularly disheartening when a new therapy or cancer drug becomes available and a patient does not have the means to access it due to financial and/or insurance restrictions.
Medical Specialists Advocating for Lower Prices of Cancer Drugs
Recently, a group of cancer specialists banned together to support cancer patients and their access to specific medications. Their editorial was published last month in the medical journal Blood, wherein they are argued that cancer drug prices are causing undue harm to patients because of their unaffordability. While these medical specialists admit that the pharmaceutical companies who develop the cancer medications deserve to earn a profit, they believe there is still some leeway to price them at a more reasonable cost. They are calling for the drug companies to lower their prices giving suffering patients access to the most effective treatments available and to preserve our healthcare system.
There were 12 new cancer drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the year 2012. Eleven of those medications carry a hefty cost of $100,000 per year. What is even more shocking is that the price of cancer medications has doubled in the last ten years. Therefore, if a drug cost $5,000 per month a decade ago, it now costs an estimated $10,000 per month.
A study that was conducted by researchers at the Harvard Medical School showed that an astounding 62 percent of all personal bankruptcies in this country are filed as a result of high medical bills with 78 percent of those individuals having medical insurance when they were diagnosed with their illness. This illustrates that even though so many people pay to have health insurance, the out-of-pocket medical expenses are sometimes so steep that people are pushed into bankruptcy and unable to afford ongoing medical care or medications which in turn could cost them their lives.
Mesothelioma Attorneys Dedicated to Helping Patients Suffering From Mesothelioma, Lung Cancer and other Asbestos-Related Diseases
The Philadelphia mesothelioma attorneys at Shein Law believe that patients suffering from mesothelioma, lung cancer or any other type of cancer or asbestos-related disease should have access to the medications that could potentially save their lives. By seeking recovery from parties responsible for our clients’ asbestos-related illnesses, we strive to provide our clients with the means to obtain all available medical treatment to improve their prognoses and their quality of life.
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with lung cancer, mesothelioma or any other asbestos-related disease, we encourage you to call Shein Law. You can expect superior legal representation from our experienced and knowledgeable lawyers who have been representing victims of asbestos in the Philadelphia region for almost 40 years. We will fight to get you the care and compensation to which you are entitled. We have offices located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Pennsauken, New Jersey, but we are willing to meet with you and your family at a location that is most convenient to you. Call us today at 1-877-SHEINLAW (743-4652) to schedule a free consultation with an experienced Pennsylvania and New Jersey mesothelioma lawyer or fill out our online contact form.