Benefits and Risks of Aggressive Mesothelioma Surgery
Choosing whether to have mesothelioma surgery is an important decision. Patients should weigh their options, including the benefits and risks of an aggressive operation. This decision should be made with the guidance and recommendations of mesothelioma specialists.
Benefits include better chances of long-term survival and a healthier, cancer-free future. Risks include possible complications during or after surgery and the burden of living without a major organ (such as a lung).
“You don’t just leave it there,” says Gary Maxwell, a long-time mesothelioma survivor. “You take it out because it’d feel a lot better if you just got it out.”
Side Effects for Mesothelioma Surgery
The main side effects for mesothelioma surgery are pain, inflammation and soreness around the incision site, and general fatigue.
With the support of an experienced medical team, these side effects are manageable. Side effects may differ for every patient and with each type of surgery.
The main side effects from pleural mesothelioma surgery (P/D and EPP) are:
Air leaking from the lungs (pneumothorax)
The main side effects from peritoneal mesothelioma surgery (Cytoreduction with HIPEC) are:
Bowel obstruction (small intestine or colon becomes blocked)
Paralyzed bowel (food stops moving through the digestive system)
Mesothelioma Surgery Recovery Time
Mesothelioma surgery recovery time depends on the patient’s health, the type of surgery they have, and more factors. Recovery is important, as it allows your body an opportunity to heal.
Mesothelioma surgery recovery includes inpatient and outpatient rest, breathing exercises, light walking and physical therapy. It may also include mental health counseling.
Each surgery has a different expected recovery period, and patients react differently following surgery. Some patients may recover quicker than others, while some may need more time.
The average recovery time for each mesothelioma surgery:
Extrapleural pneumonectomy
Pleurectomy/decortication
Note: Most of the recovery time following mesothelioma surgery occurs in an outpatient setting, such as the patient’s home or a family member’s/caregiver’s home. Inpatient recovery time at the hospital usually only lasts 1-2 weeks.
Survival Rates After Mesothelioma Surgery
Survival rates after mesothelioma surgery depend on the type of surgery and type of mesothelioma. However, each mesothelioma surgery can improve survival if the procedure is successful and the patient recovers well.
There was a recent study of more than 250 people who had pleural mesothelioma surgery. They had either pleurectomy/decortication or extrapleural pneumonectomy. The average survival for the patients was 40.7 months (3 years, 4 months).
Below are a few more examples from studies that showcase patient survival following mesothelioma surgery.
114 women received extended pleurectomy/decortication at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and had a median survival of 38 months. Approximately 28% of them lived for at least 5 years.
Median survival of
38 months
A study of more than 500 patients receiving extrapleural pneumonectomy had a median survival of 18 months (1.5 years). Approximately 14% of the patients lived for at least 5 years.
Median survival of
18 months
From 1993-2001, more than 100 people with peritoneal mesothelioma received cytoreduction with HIPEC surgery at Wake Forest Baptist Health. The median survival was 40 months (3 years, 4 months).
Median survival of
40 months
Inspiring Mesothelioma Survival Stories Thanks to Surgery
There are several mesothelioma survival stories involving surgery. A medical procedure to remove tumors can lead to patient survival of 5-10 years, and sometimes more. Below are stories of people with mesothelioma who have benefited from surgery.
Gary Maxwell
Gary Maxwell was 60 years old when he was diagnosed with malignant pleural mesothelioma. His original prognosis was 1-2 years. He underwent four rounds of chemotherapy followed by a pleurectomy/decortication surgery to remove the pleural lining and other diseased tissue. Gary has been in complete remission and cancer-free for 10 years.
Alexis Kidd
Alexis Kidd was 37 years old when she was diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma. She was originally diagnosed with stage 4 cancer but was downgraded to a stage eligible for surgery. She received cytoreduction with HIPEC surgery to remove visible tumors and have her diaphragm removed. Alexis has lived for more than 16 years since the surgery.
