Our patient resources section offers valuable information to pleural mesothelioma patients and their loved ones, providing resources on the nation’s top mesothelioma doctors and cancer centers, clinical trials, survival rates, research and much more. Patients and family members are encouraged to browse through these helpful resources to better understand their diagnosis, treatment options and ways to cope with pleural mesothelioma. If a number of questions arise while browsing through the information our Patient Advocates are available at (800) 656-6031 to clarify any confusion and offer additional resources.
Because pleural mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer, not every cancer treatment facility in the country is equipped or experienced enough to properly treat this cancer. Finding the right cancer center for your case is important to improving survival rate and our cancer center resources can help you in this vital decision.
A number of doctors are typically involved in the diagnosis and treatment of pleural mesothelioma. Such specialists may include pathologists, oncologists or thoracic surgeons, to name a few. Understanding what each specialist does can help a pleural mesothelioma feel comfortable along the way and aid them in knowing which questions to ask with the right doctor.
Currently there is no cure for pleural mesothelioma, but a number of clinical trials are discovering new novel therapies and making improvements in current treatments. Some pleural mesothelioma patients opt to participate in clinical trials to take advantage of up-and-coming treatments in an attempt to improve their life expectancy.
Pleural mesothelioma survivors tend to have one thing in common: improved immune function. Their immune systems seem to be able to cope with the cancer better than non-survivors, and one way survivors have done this is through improved nutrition and supplementation. Proper nutrition for pleural mesothelioma patients is crucial through the treatment process, especially throughout chemotherapy, which can greatly upset the digestive system and make it difficult to eat.
Both pleural mesothelioma patients and their loved ones need support to help cope with the cancer diagnosis. A variety of support groups and online resources are available to assist patients and their loved ones during this challenging time.
Although there is no cure for pleural mesothelioma, a number of pleural mesothelioma survivors have conquered the disease and have gone on to tell their stories of success. A range of factors affect survival, such as age and stage of development at diagnosis, but most survivors seem to have improved immune system function that helps them to fight the disease.
The present pleural mesothelioma survival rate, otherwise known as the five-year survival rate, is approximately 10 percent. Various factors affect survival rates, such as current health, smoking history and age at diagnosis. Some factors cannot be changed, but some risk factors can be altered in an effort to improve life expectancy.
Since a cure for pleural mesothelioma has yet to be discovered, much mesothelioma research is being conducted throughout the world to improve treatment of this aggressive cancer. Asbestos knows no boarders and has been used in practically every corner of civilization, making the demographic occurrence of mesothelioma a global issue. As such, research is being carried out across the world to better understand this rare cancer.
Knowing the facts and statistics about pleural mesothelioma can help patients to make educated decisions about their treatment options, but patients and their loved ones should remember that these statistics do not represent any one pleural mesothelioma case and will not predict a patient’s experience. Understanding the facts is important, and equally important is seeing through the numbers to understand not every mesothelioma case will fit the standard outcome and that hope for survival is not lost.
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