Mesothelioma Life Expectancy

The life expectancy of a pleural mesothelioma patient depends upon a number of factors. Each patient has a unique case that affects their prognosis and treatment will revolve around their specific needs. A number of studies have revealed that the median life expectancy for mesothelioma cancer patients ranges between four and 18 months. 

Currently there is no cure for pleural mesothelioma cancer, but advancements in mesothelioma treatment are continuing to improve the life expectancies of many patients. A number of pleural mesothelioma survivors are demonstrating that median life expectancies are merely numbers that can be beaten.

Factors Affecting Pleural Mesothelioma Life Expectancy

There are several factors that can affect the life expectancy of a pleural mesothelioma patient, including:

Latency Period – Though many cancers exhibit symptoms relatively quickly, the signs of pleural mesothelioma cancer do not surface until later stages of cancer development and this may be 20 to 50 years after initial exposure to asbestos. Because of the latency of symptoms, the cancer is typically diagnosed during the advanced stages. Those with a history of asbestos exposure should seek annual asbestos screenings to check for signs of disease.

Stage at Diagnosis – Life expectancy is greatly affected by the stage of the cancer at diagnosis. A prognosis can be poor if the cancer is detected in a late stage of development and when treatment options are fewer and less effective. If the cancer is caught earlier, a patient’s prognosis may improve since more treatment options will be available.

Age at Diagnosis – A person’s age at diagnosis can affect prognosis because older patients often experience difficulty when receiving an aggressive treatment approach that tries to cure the cancer. The average age of a mesothelioma patient is 60 and more than 75 percent of mesothelioma cases are diagnosed in men age 55 or older.

Feasible Treatment Options – Depending on the health of the patient and their stage at diagnosis, a pleural mesothelioma patient may be able to withstand aggressive treatments that attempt to cure the disease or they may only be able to handle palliative treatment options (which aim to alleviate symptoms and improve quality of life rather than cure the cancer). In some cases, taking a more aggressive treatment approach can prolong life expectancy, but this varies from patient to patient.

Smoking and General Health – Pleural mesothelioma patients who refrained from smoking and lived a healthy lifestyle prior to their diagnosis tend to have a better prognosis. Patients who smoked or had poor health before diagnosis often exhibit compromised lungs or immune systems, and this can have a negative affect on life expectancy.

Improving Pleural Mesothelioma Life Expectancy

Though some life expectancy factors such as age at diagnosis or latency period cannot be altered or otherwise improved, advancements in pleural mesothelioma treatment are improving life expectancies for many patients. Medical professionals that research and treat pleural mesothelioma are always seeking and testing new methods to improve the prognosis, which is primarily achieved through clinical trials and mesothelioma research. These trials test new medications and treatment options and a number of mesothelioma patients have benefited from participating in such clinical studies.

Advancements in the early diagnosis of pleural mesothelioma are also opening up more treatment options to a greater number of patients. Early detection allows physicians to take a more aggressive treatment track and this can greatly improve life expectancy, but this option is not available to all mesothelioma patients and varies from case to case. Some of the more aggressive treatment options include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation.

Pleural Mesothelioma Survivors

Many patients look to mesothelioma survivors to observe their approach to beating the cancer. One common element seems to unite the fighting factor among mesothelioma survivors, and that is a strong and nourished immune system. Most mesothelioma survivors added alternative and complimentary therapies to their standard treatment and these therapies all worked to improve the immune system and the patient’s well being from a holistic approach.

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