Mesothelioma prognosis: How to improve a patient's mesothelioma?

The best way to improve a patient's mesothelioma life expectancy is through early detection. Mesothelioma treatments are more effective during early stages of cancer development, but there are a number of factors that affect a mesothelioma prognosis.

When a patient is diagnosed with stage four mesothelioma, their health condition often rules out the possibility of surgery. In addition to the stage of the cancer and the age of the patient, other factors that affect prognosis include:
The type of mesothelioma – pleural, peritoneal, pericardial or testicular
Some patients already have multiple medical problems caused by advancing age, making treatment even more difficult and increasing the mortality rate among mesothelioma patients.

Understanding the above prognostic factors can help patients comprehend their mesothelioma life expectancy. Each mesothelioma case is different, as some patients are diagnosed early and may have a better mesothelioma survival while other patients may have been long-term smokers with weakened lungs and poor overall health.
Many studies have been conducted in regards to survival rates among mesothelioma patients. According to statistics published by the American Cancer Society, the five-year relative survival rate for patients with mesothelioma is approximately 10 percent.

Mesothelioma Prognosis

The stage at which a pleural mesothelioma patient is diagnosed can have a very big impact on the prospects of long-term survival. If a patient is diagnosed once the disease has reached the advanced stages, treatment options are limited and prognosis is often compromised.

Factors Influencing a Pleural Mesothelioma Prognosis

A patient’s overall health status and age greatly affects the prognosis. The American Cancer Society reports that 75 percent of those diagnosed with mesothelioma are 55 or older. When a mesothelioma patient is initially diagnosed, doctors first evaluate how far the cancer has spread. Pleural mesothelioma patients who experience these symptoms usually receive a prognosis ranging between six and 12 months.

Surgical Options that May Improve Prognosis

Some pleural mesothelioma patients in Stage I have had their tumor successfully removed through a surgical procedure called extrapleural pneumonectomy. This procedure works best for patients with epithelioid cell pleural mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma Survival Rate
In 2006, the five-year survival rate for mesothelioma was estimated at 10 percent.

What is mesothelioma?

Peritoneal mesothelioma is much less common. The rarest form of mesothelioma is pericardial mesothelioma, which involves the sac surrounding the heart.
In very rare cases, mesothelioma can originate from benign, non-malignant cells. This so-called benign mesothelioma can be cured surgically.

What are the symptoms of mesothelioma?

Most people present with complaints of shortness of breath. They also can have complaints of chest pain. Surprisingly, this pain is often not pleuritic; that is, it does not get worse with deep breathing. This is surprising in that the pleura (outer surface of the lung) is often involved in this disease, and most other diseases involving the pleura are often associated with pleuritic pain (pain that worsens with deep breathing). Patients may also be asymptomatic, with the disease discovered by physical exam or an abnormal chest X-ray.

What causes mesothelioma?

Most people with malignant mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they breathed asbestos. Usually, this involves men over 40 years of age. Others have been exposed to asbestos in a household environment, often without knowing it. Interestingly, the number of new cases of mesothelioma has been relatively stable since 1983, the same time that the restrictions on asbestos were instituted by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). In Europe, the number of new cases of mesothelioma continues to rise.