Mesothelioma Life Span
The life span of a pleural mesothelioma patient will vary from case to case. When dealing with mesothelioma, life span is often measured in months. Because of the aggressive nature of this form of cancer, the average life span of such a patient is approximately four to 18 months. However, some patients have altered their lifestyle and have prolonged their life span significantly.
Improving Pleural Mesothelioma Life Span
A number of factors can affect a pleural mesothelioma patient’s life span, including:
- Early Diagnosis – Detecting mesothelioma during the early stage of development will not only increase a patient’s odds of beating the cancer, but greatly expand treatment options as well.
- Age and Overall Health – A patient’ age and general health can dramatically affect life span. Someone who is young and in good physical shape may have an easier time handling the effects of treatment and the overall symptoms of pleural mesothelioma.
- Treatment Options – Treatment for mesothelioma patients heavily depends on the stage of cancer when diagnosed. A diagnosis during an early stage versus and late stage may determine whether a patient receives palliative care or curative treatment.
- Smoking – Studies have shown that smoking cigarettes can greatly decrease life span and weaken a patient’s ability to combat pleural mesothelioma. Smoking cigarettes should be avoided by all pleural mesothelioma patients after being diagnosed.
- Genetic Disposition – Recent studies have concluded that there may be genetic mutations that can increase a person’s chance of developing pleural mesothelioma if they have been exposed to asbestos.
Pleural mesothelioma life span can also vary depending on the nature of the malignancy. A case of pleural mesothelioma may fall into one of three subtypes:
- Epithelial, accounting for approximately 50 percent of all cases
- Sarcomatoid, affecting 15 percent of mesothelioma patients
- Mixed type, making up the remaining 35 percent
Like any form of cancer, long-term survival depends on early diagnosis. However, most pleural mesothelioma cases have a severe latency period for the arrival of symptoms (20 to 50 years) and this often leads to a late diagnosis. In addition, symptoms of pleural mesothelioma can mimic those of many other respiratory diseases and physicians may experience difficulty in making a diagnosis. For these reasons, pleural mesothelioma is rarely diagnosed before it reaches Stage 3 or 4, at which point the disease is inoperable.
If you would like to understand more about the life span of pleural mesothelioma patients, please fill out the form on this page to receive a complimentary informational packet in the mail.
Sources
- Beyerm H.L., at al. "MESOMARK: A Potential Test For Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma." Clinical Chemistry, vol. 54 no. 4 (July 2006)
- Kraus, Paul. Surviving Mesothelioma: A Patient's Guide. (Cancer Monthly, Inc., 2009)
- Pistolesi, M., and Rusthoven, J. Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma: "Update, Current Management, and Newer Therapeutic Strategies." Chest. October 2004. Vol. 126 (4), pp. 1318-1329.
- Sugarbaker, D.J., Norberto, J.J. , and Bueno, R. "Current Therapy for Mesothelioma." Cancer Control Journal. Vol 4 (4), online edition. 19 July 2007.
