Mesothelioma, Cancer Treatments, Expected to Double By 2020

Mesothelioma patients for years have been seeking compensation from asbestos manufacturers and companies that routinely used asbestos in the manufacturing process.

Our mesothelioma attorneys understand some are hesitant to pursue legal action, based on the sometimes arduous litigation process, particularly the extensive delay tactics deployed by the defendants. Seeking legal counsel is the first step in joining the fight. A nationwide support system, including legal, medical, emotional, and spiritual guidance, offers hope to victims and families. As of mid-2012, there were 164 clinical trials racing to find a cure for this deadly cancer.

In fact, treatment for all forms of cancer is steadily evolving — and often getting much more expensive. A new study, published by The American Journal of Managed Care, projects that costs for cancer treatment are expected to skyrocket in every state in the country. Conducted by researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and RTI International, the study projects that costs are expected to rise by between 34 percent and 115 percent by 2020.

Florida and New York were among the states expected to see the greatest increases. Florida patients will see an overall increase of about $25 billion, while patients in New York can expect to see an increase of approximately $17.5 billion.

California, the state with the highest projected increases, will see cancer treatment costs jump my an astonishing $28.3 billion.

These costs will be especially pronounced for those suffering from rare and aggressive cancers, such as mesothelioma.

The researchers employed cancer prevalence data from 2004 through 2009, as provided by the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, as well as information from the U.S. Census Bureau population forecasts. They then calculated how many people from each state are going to need treatment in the next eight years, and what the overall cost of that treatment is expected to be.

These cost increases varied from state-to-state, but all saw a projected increase. Even in those select few areas where cancer is expected to decline, the costs for treatment still shot up.

Florida is expected to have one of the highest increased cancer rates, with the number of people with cancer diagnoses expected to increase by more than 350,000 by 2020.

Cancer-related medical costs are already a significant portion of overall medical costs in the U.S., particularly for those who are older than 65.

Some of those costs may be offset by health insurance or publicly-funded Medicare, but it’s not always something all mesothelioma patients can count on. Even those who do can expect that they will bear the burden at least some of those expenses.

For mesothelioma patients, it’s not a battle they should fight alone, considering almost every case is caused by the negligence of a corporation or government entity.

Asbestos was widely used in a large array of products through the 1970s. While it’s no longer used as frequently, it’s still not legally banned in the U.S. Mesothelioma, the fatal cancer that is caused by inhaling asbestos fibers, is typically diagnosed decades after exposure. Despite what some defendants have attempted to claim, there is no “safe level” of asbestos exposure.

Although we have no known cure for mesothelioma at this point, research has been ongoing, and we are hopeful. But in the meantime, increasing financial burdens will be placed on the shoulders of those who are already fighting for their lives – and their families.

Our mesothelioma lawyers have had continued success in helping mesothelioma sufferers and their families obtain compensation for their illness. You are entitled to seek compensation for treatment costs, loss of income, loss of consortium, pain and suffering and other expenses.

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More Blog Entries:
Delay Tactics of Mesothelioma Defendants Prove Ineffective, Aug. 30, 2012, Mesothelioma Lawyers’ Blog