Mesothelioma Prognosis

4 Important Ways to Improve Your Prognosis

Understanding what encompasses a survival prediction can help mesothelioma patients make healthcare decisions. The most important decision to make is taking advantage of factors within their control.

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  Consider Your Treatment Options Mesothelioma research has come a long way in the past decade, creating more treatment options than ever before. Surgery for mesothelioma is the most curative treatment option available in prolonging a patient’s life. Patients not eligible for surgery can take advantage of other cancer treatments, like chemotherapy or immunotherapy, or gain access to exclusive treatments in clinical trials.
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  Find a Great Mesothelioma Specialist Choosing a specialist is one of the most important steps to take. Mesothelioma specialists have years of experience treating mesothelioma and conducting research for new therapies. There are top specialists in several parts of the country. Our Doctor Match program helps match patients to experienced specialists.
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  Improve Your Personal Health A healthy immune system manages treatments like chemotherapy and fights off diseases impacting recovery. The healthier a patient is when cancer strikes, the better the body defends itself. However, it’s never too late to begin healthy habits. Patients can actively improve and maintain their personal health through diet and exercise. Making healthy choices after a diagnosis can make a significant impact.
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  Get a Second Opinion Second opinions are extremely important after receiving a diagnosis. Alexis Kidd learned her mesothelioma wasn’t as advanced as she thought after getting a second opinion. Some doctors may not offer certain treatments if they think the risks outweigh the benefits. Getting a second opinion can often mean gaining access to treatments not previously available.

Take Action to Improve Your Chances

Patients have a limited amount of time to take meaningful action. Since tumors can spread quickly, patients should learn what treatment options for mesothelioma are available. Only a mesothelioma specialist can provide patients with the most beneficial treatment. Specialists are also an essential tool for those who haven’t had a second opinion.

Factors Influencing Your Outlook

Receiving a diagnosis for mesothelioma is a difficult experience. Nobody is ready to hear they have cancer, or how long they have left to live. However, this is just the first step and can change with available treatment options. Remember that your doctor’s estimation for your life expectancy is a guess, not a fact.

There are certain factors not under a patient’s control. These factors can affect your doctor’s prediction:

• Type of mesothelioma (pleural, peritoneal, pericardial)
• Symptoms
• Stage of disease at the time of diagnosis
• Histology (cell type of your mesothelioma)
• Latency period
• Metastasis (spread)
• Age and gender
• Additional illnesses

Survival Rate

The survival rate for mesothelioma has improved over the past decade as new treatment options have emerged. This offers hope to patients and can improve their initial outlook.

Mesothelioma Survival Rates by Year

Survival statistics for more aggressive diseases and cancers are commonly organized by five-year rates. This is the percentage of patients who survive five years or more.

However, survival is also measured one, two and three years after patients are diagnosed. Doctors use these statistics to compare the effectiveness of treatments.

Patient Survival Rate by Age

Around 40% percent of patients diagnosed before age 45 live five years or longer. This is more than four times the average five-year diagnosis for mesothelioma.

Common Questions About Mesothelioma Prognosis

How long do people usually live with mesothelioma?

People with mesothelioma usually live a few months to multiple years. While the average for all types of mesothelioma is 1-2 years, the type of mesothelioma and treatment a person has are significant factors.

What is the average prognosis for pleural mesothelioma?

The average prognosis for pleural mesothelioma is 8-19 months. This cancer forms near the lungs and can easily spread to this organ, along with lymph nodes. These factors affect life expectancy, but early detection can lead to long-term survival.

What is the average prognosis for peritoneal mesothelioma?

Patients with peritoneal mesothelioma are expected to live on average around two years. Treatment for peritoneal mesothelioma often improves the survival to 3-5 years. This cancer usually spreads within the abdomen and doesn’t reach lymph nodes. It can be easy to treat with surgery.

What are the main factors affecting your prognosis?

The type and stage of the disease will significantly impact prognosis. The earlier the stage, the better the expected survival time. Therefore, early detection is vital. Peritoneal mesothelioma also has a better outlook than pleural mesothelioma. Other factors are:

• Age
• Gender
• Overall health
• Treatment

How can you improve your mesothelioma prognosis?

Early detection and high-quality medical care are the best ways. The earlier you learn you have mesothelioma, the better your forecast is due to the limited spread of tumors. Receiving care from a specialist can also boost your survival chances due to their experience and access to treatment innovations.