Age is not the only factor determining survival for mesothelioma. The stage of the cancer, patient’s health, treatment options, and other factors play a significant role.
However, age plays a role – a big one.
A study published in the Turkish Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery analyzed the survival rates for 64 people who received surgery for their mesothelioma. Age was a major factor in whether patients experienced long-term survival (at least 5 years).
According to the data, the overall 5-year survival rate was 8%. This is in line with the averages from other, larger studies.
Patients who were younger than 65 years old, however, had a 5-year survival rate of 11%. Patients who were older than 65 years old had a 5-year survival rate of 0%. This means no one above the age of 65 lived for at least 5 years.
Surgery for Mesothelioma
The two main types of mesothelioma surgery are extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP) and pleurectomy with decortication (P/D). These surgeries are for pleural mesothelioma, which starts in the lining of the lungs. EPP removes one of the patient’s lungs. P/D does not remove either lung.
Some studies found that EPP and P/D lead to average survival of 2-3 years for patients. A few studies had patients live for 4-5 years.
The other type of mesothelioma surgery is cytoreduction with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC). This surgery is used for peritoneal mesothelioma, which starts in the lining of the abdominal cavity.
Age and Mesothelioma
The only cause of this cancer is exposure to asbestos, and the sharp fibers stuck in the tissue linings take a long time to cause genetic changes to cells. Mesothelioma takes on average 20-50 years to develop.
Unfortunately, this lengthy time for development leads to an older demographic of patients. The average age of people diagnosed with mesothelioma is 72. Approximately 67% of patients are older than 65 years old.
Age alone is not the only factor determining survival. However, age is also connected to the patient’s overall health. Many people lose strength and endurance as they age. This means older patients are less likely to handle surgery, chemotherapy, radiation and more. Even the symptoms and side effects of mesothelioma – shortness of breath, loss of appetite, weight loss, and difficulty breathing – can have a larger impact on older patients.
How to Fight Mesothelioma
All people with mesothelioma should prioritize receiving treatment from an esteemed cancer center. There are mesothelioma cancer centers of excellence with trained thoracic surgeons who have helped mesothelioma patients for years. Rely on their expertise to give yourself the best chance of lengthy survival against mesothelioma.
Email Karen Ritter at karen@mesotheliomaguide.com for help finding a cancer center near you, or one that specializes in your type of mesothelioma and preferred treatment.
Sources & Author
- Factors affecting prognosis in patients diagnosed with epithelioid pleural mesothelioma who underwent surgery. Turkish Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery. Retrieved from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41834569/. Accessed: 03/18/2026.
