Mesothelioma Survival Rates

“How long can I live with this disease?” is a common query for those who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma. Indeed, many patients will turn to their doctor with this question as will their concerned friends and family members. As with most diseases, however, there is no one answer as to the life expectancy of a mesothelioma patient. In general, the mesothelioma survival rate is based on a number of different factors. Every case is a little bit different and, although the survival rate for mesothelioma victims has traditionally been grim, more and more patients are living longer with the disease as scientists discover new and more effective ways to detect the disease and to treat it.

Survival rates for mesothelioma patients are dependent upon a variety of factors that may include any or all of the following:

Mesothelioma Latency Period

Mesothelioma is an unusual form of cancer in that it has a very long latency period. Essentially, this means that the disease often “hides” in the body for many years, sometimes for up to four or five decades. Hence, 40-50 years may have passed since initial exposure to asbestos first occurred. This extended latency period also means that the disease is not detected until symptoms arise. Often, by that time, the cancer has spread from the primary area to other parts of the body.

Stage of Disease at the Time of Diagnosis

Individuals whose mesothelioma is discovered in Stage 1 or 2 have a greater chance of surviving the disease for an extended period of time due to the fact that more treatment options will be available to them. Individuals diagnosed with Stage 3 or 4 mesothelioma will have fewer treatment options, and thus, a less favorable prognosis. The worst mesothelioma prognosis is seen in patients with advanced cancer that present or are symptomatic with distant metastases of the primary tumor, i.e., the cancer has spread from the primary area to other parts of the body.

Operability of the Tumor

Due to the aforementioned latency period, surgery to remove the primary mesothelioma tumor is often not an option. However, if the disease is discovered in an early stage, a surgical procedure to remove the tumor may be a possibility, especially when the patient is otherwise healthy.

Age of the Patient

The younger the patient, the better the chance for survival. Studies have shown that age does indeed play a factor in survival rate and young patients certainly fair better.

Read more: http://www.mesothelioma.com/mesothelioma/prognosis/survival-rate.htm#ixzz3Yiknh8sV

A survival rate refers to the percentage of people who survive their diagnosis after a certain amount of time. Mesothelioma survival rates are expressed in a number of ways. They can be stated as a percentage of patients who survive their diagnosis after a certain interval of time (1, 2 or 5 years), or given as the amount of time patients live after they are diagnosed.

It’s important to note that mesothelioma survival rates are not set in stone. They’re averages based on the combined experiences of large numbers of mesothelioma patients in the past.

Doctors use survival rates and statistics as a tool or a guideline to develop a treatment plan. They also use them to explain to a patient how a mesothelioma diagnosis might affect their quality of life in the future. Survival rates can change as both new and standard mesothelioma treatments are developed in clinical trials.