Mesothelioma Life Expectancy

The life expectancy of a pleural mesothelioma patient depends upon a number of factors, and each patient has a unique case that affects their prognosis. 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 mesothelioma cancer. However, advancements in mesothelioma treatment are improving the life expectancies of many patients and a number of mesothelioma survivors are demonstrating that median life expectancies are merely numbers that can be beaten.

Factors Affecting 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 physical symptoms relatively quickly, the signs of 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 in a late stage of development. 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 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 patient’s age at diagnosis can affect a prognosis since the older the patient is the less likely their body will be able to withstand 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 upon the health of the patient and their stage at diagnosis, a 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 – 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 have compromised lungs or immune systems, and this can have a negative affect on life expectancy.

Improving Mesothelioma Life Expectancy

Though some life expectancy factors such as age at diagnosis or latency period cannot be changed or otherwise improved, advancements in mesothelioma treatment are improving life expectancies for many patients. Medical professionals that research and treat mesothelioma are always seeking and testing new methods to improve the prognosis, which is primarily achieved through clinical trials. 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, which may have a positive outcome on prognosis. Taking a more aggressive treatment track can 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.

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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