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Pleural Mesothelioma Life Span

Most mesothelioma patients have a life span of less than a year after being diagnosed with the disease, although some individuals live five years or longer. Individuals diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma, the most common type of the disease, are likely to have a slightly longer lifespan.

Mesothelioma patients can extend their lives by paying keen attention to their body and to early symptoms of this difficult-to-diagnose disease. Catching mesothelioma cancer in an early stage is the best way to become a survivor and also makes it easier to take action against the disease.

If you are believed to have mesothelioma, your doctor will run a series of tests to confirm it. If the doctor determines that you do have the disease, it will be important to get treatment as soon as possible. Treatment can mean surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy – or a combination of the three. Gaining an early accurate diagnosis and getting early treatment are the best tools to extend your life span.

If you need help finding a specialist, the Mesothelioma Center's Doctor Match Program can pair you with a physician convenient to your location. Complete the form on this page to find a doctor who specializes in your specific illness.

Symptoms Can Impact Pleural Mesothelioma Life Span

Pleural mesothelioma has a latency period of 20 to 50 years. This means there are decades between when you were first exposed to asbestos and when you first experience symptoms of the cancer. Initial symptoms of pleural mesothelioma, in its early stages, are usually mild and often unnoticed. But as the disease progresses you may experience chest pain, shortness of breath, coughing and even weight loss, just to name a few of the more common symptoms.

The presence or absence of certain symptoms can help indicate a pleural mesothelioma patient's life span. For instance, patients who do not initially experience chest pain may have longer life spans. Similarly, patients may expect to live longer if they do not initially experience significant, unintentional weight loss, a loss of 5 percent or more of one's total body weight.

Although more research needs to be done on this observation, some studies point to the type of cell that makes up the mesothelioma tumor as being indicative of possible symptoms. For example, mesothelioma tumors of patients that initially experienced symptoms of chest pain and extreme weight loss were found to have been composed of the sarcomatoid cell type. The sarcomatoid cell type is considered to be the most aggressive cell type because it spreads rapidly and is resistant to treatment. In general this cell type has the worst prognosis and is considered a serious indicator of a shorter life span.

• Learn more about pleural mesothelioma symptoms. http://www.pleuralmesothelioma.com/cancer/symptoms.php

Why and How Diagnosis Affects Expected Life Span

The usual early symptoms of pleural mesothelioma — chest pain, shortness of breath and coughing — are common to other, more prevalent and less severe ailments. This leads the true cause to remain hidden for some time. In fact, one study found that it takes an average of three to four months for a patient to receive a final confirmed diagnosis of pleural mesothelioma.

Because mesothelioma is such an aggressive cancer, the three or four months it takes to make a diagnosis can have a serious impact on the type and nature of treatments that are available and effective. Availability of effective treatments is one of the most important indicators of a patient's potential life span, after diagnosis.

Once the illness is confirmed to be pleural mesothelioma, your doctor may be able to estimate your life span. This involves taking into account a number of components: the stage of mesothelioma tumor, general health, age, lifestyle, and available treatment options. Each of these components will have a strong influence on estimated life span. For instance, a younger patient with an early stage diagnosis who is in general good health is likely to have a longer estimated life span than an older patient with other health complications who is diagnosed in a later stage.

• Learn more about diagnosing pleural mesothelioma. http://www.pleuralmesothelioma.com/cancer/diagnosis.php

Impact of Available Treatments on Life Span

The type of treatment available can have a significant impact on a pleural patient's life span. When determining your expected life span, your doctor takes into account potential treatment options. A standard treatment regimen generally includes a combination of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

Although each of these, especially when used in combination, has shown to increase life span, not all patients are good candidates for all types of treatments. For instance, if the pleural mesothelioma tumor has spread and is in the later stages of development or if the patient's general health is poor, surgery may not be a viable option. Not being able to surgically remove the bulk of the tumor will have a significant negative impact on an expected life span.

Impact of Lifestyle Changes on Life Span

Pleural mesothelioma patients can take their well-being into their own hands and make lifestyle changes to promote healthier living. These changes may include, among other things, beginning an exercise routine, changing diet, and quitting smoking.

Exercise can become important for pleural mesothelioma patients, especially those undergoing exhausting treatments like chemotherapy. Exercise can keep energy levels high and keep muscles strong, in addition to improving body image and combating depression and anxiety. Longtime mesothelioma survivor Larry Davis attributes his longevity to his exercise regimen.

A simple exercise plan should incorporate whole-body exercises and should be implemented at least every other day, for a total of 2.5 hours each week. Pleural mesothelioma patients should consider creating a regime of walking, biking or swimming. Depending on a patient's physical ability and immune system strength, doctors generally recommend starting slowly and building up the time and intensity of exercise.

Quitting smoking is always a good idea when trying to become healthier. Although it may not directly affect life span, it can greatly improve quality of life. Quitting smoking can do wonders for the main symptoms of pleural mesothelioma like difficulty breathing, cough and chest pain.

For more information about nutrition during mesothelioma cancer treatment, read Maureen Keane and Daniella Chace's book, What to Eat if You Have Cancer, available free through the Mesothelioma Center. We also offer books about becoming a survivor, coping with mesothelioma and being a caregiver. To request a free book from the Mesothelioma Center, fill out the form here.

Sources:

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