One of the first questions people diagnosed with cancer ask is, “How much will treatment cost?” Financial burdens and limitations can significantly affect treatment decisions. Some people with cancer shy away from aggressive treatment, such as surgery or chemotherapy, because they do not believe they can afford it.
Unfortunately, the high cost of treatment makes these decisions much tougher on patients and their families – and this is especially true for people seeking treatment for mesothelioma.
A study published in Advances in Therapy used the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-Medicare deidentified database to analyze survival rates, the most common treatments used, and the average cost of treatment for people with mesothelioma. This study focused on patients in the United States.
According to the study, on average, the total cost for treatment is $11,432 per month. This amount is likely before insurance coverage and deductibles, so the price patients pay is often lower. Duke University conducted a study in 2011 that stated the average amount of out-of-pocket expenses for a cancer patient with health insurance was $712 a month. That is $8,544 a year.
More About Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive cancer that forms in the lining of the lungs, abdominal cavity, heart, and testes. 99% of mesothelioma cases start in the lining of either the lungs or abdominal cavity.
Most begin in the lining of the lungs, which is called the pleura. This type of mesothelioma is called pleural mesothelioma. It quickly spreads to the lungs and can cause trouble breathing, persistent coughing, and other uncomfortable symptoms.
The average survival of mesothelioma is 1-2 years, which is worse than for most types of cancer. Treatment centers around surgery, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy. However, most people diagnosed with mesothelioma are seniors – at least 60 years old – and unable to have aggressive surgery to remove tumors.
Most Popular Type of Treatment
The study focused on patients from 2007-2019 who were at least 65 years old and received at least one line of treatment. This group included 554 patients.
The most common treatment chosen was chemotherapy, specifically a combination approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2005. This combination is pemetrexed and a platinum-based chemotherapy, namely cisplatin or carboplatin. Nearly 76% of the patients in the study received this combination as their initial treatment.
Chemotherapy was also the most common treatment for second- and third-line therapies. The median survival for this group of 554 patients was 16 months, and the 5-year survival rate was close to 8% – both similar to the overall median survival and 5-year survival rate for mesothelioma.
Other Sources and Studies Listing Cost of Mesothelioma Treatment
The cost of mesothelioma treatment increases substantially if the patient has surgery. According to reports from Rare Tumors, Annals of Surgical Oncology and The New York Times, the approximated cost of each pleural mesothelioma surgery before insurance deductions is:
- $62,000 for a lung-removal surgery called extrapleural pneumonectomy
- $54,000 for a surgery called pleurectomy with decortication
The cost of immunotherapy is also higher than the cost of chemotherapy. Patients who receive a combination of treatment options likely rely on their insurance and other financial assistance to avoid a massive bill.
How to Receive Help Covering the Cost of Treatment
There are a few options available to patients and their families. These measures can help manage the costs and reduce the financial burden – avoiding medical debt in the tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands.
First, speak with a patient advocate. Mesothelioma Guide registered nurse and patient advocate Karen Ritter is available for assistance. Email her at karen@mesotheliomaguide.com for help finding resources to reduce the cost of treatment.
The main financial assistance options are:
- Clinical trials – These studies often are free for patients and give them access to experimental treatments or new combinations of established therapies.
- Lawsuits – Mesothelioma is a cancer caused entirely by exposure to asbestos. Companies that manufactured asbestos in commercial products are responsible for exposing people and causing their cancer.
- Asbestos trust funds – Many of the asbestos manufacturing companies are now bankrupt. They set up accounts called trust funds to pay people diagnosed with mesothelioma.
- Insurance – Medical insurance coverage is available to mesothelioma patients through various options, such as Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security.
- VA claims and health care – Those who have served in the U.S. military and have developed mesothelioma after being exposed to asbestos are entitled to special assistance. This includes compensation through VA claims and access to free VA health care coverage/insurance.
- Charitable organizations – There are many nonprofit organizations and charitable foundations designated to help cancer patients afford treatment. For instance, some hospitals offer reduced-cost housing for family members. A few organizations offer free flights for cancer patients.
Sources & Author
- Treatment Patterns, Clinical Outcomes, Health Care Resource Use, and Costs in Older Adults with Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma in the United States, 2007-2020. U.S. National Library of Medicine. Retrieved from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41604116/. Accessed: 02/04/2026.
