A mesothelioma prognosis reflects how certain factors may impact your life expectancy and affect your chances of recovery. The average life expectancy for a person diagnosed with mesothelioma ranges from 12 to 21 months depending how advanced the disease is. Factors that affect prognosis include the cell type, stage, and location of thedisease.
More and more patients are living even longer because of better treatments and advances in research. The best way patients can take control of their prognosis is by seeking out an experienced mesothelioma specialist. Get in touch a member of our Patient Help Team to get connected with a mesotheliomaexpert.
Treatments That Can Improve YourPrognosis
Multimodal therapy: This type of therapy combines several types of treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiation. Using more than one type of treatment typically kills more mesothelioma cells than one treatmentalone.
Surgery: Although not all patients are eligible, surgery offers the best chances of removing mesothelioma from the body. A study released in 2015 showed that patients who had pleurectomy with intraoperative radiation had a median survival time of 2 years and 4months.
Clinical trials: Recruiting clinical trials offer unique, experimental treatments when other options have been exhausted. Patients who have exhausted all of their treatment options can turn to clinical trials for moreoptions.
Mesothelioma survivors have outlived their prognoses by exploring all their treatment options. Multimodal treatments and clinical trials often offer the best chances for patients to beat their prognosis.
"When hope is in the equation, anything is possible."
Factors Affecting Your Prognosis
Certain factors determine your prognosis some of these you can control directly, while others require treatment from mesothelioma specialist.
Factors that arent under your control:
Factors that under your control:
Improving Your Prognosis
The prognosis for mesothelioma is shorter than many other types of cancer, but every patient can take concrete actions to help them live longer. Improving your prognosis begins with accepting what you can't change and knowing what you can change.
Get treatment from an experienced doctor: Mesothelioma is a very rare disease, and few oncologists are truly experienced treating the disease. Specialists experienced in treating patients with mesothelioma is a must if you wish to improve your prognosis. Seeking help from a mesothelioma specialist is the most important step you can take to improve your prognosis.
Seek a second opinion: Patients who take control of their diagnosis get the best treatment, and this is often accomplished by getting a second opinion. Not all doctors will perform the same procedures or offer the same treatments. Patients who get a second opinion may learn that a different doctor is more capable of treating them. Good doctors encourage their patients to seek second opinions.
Participate in clinical trials: Clinical trials play an essential role in the development of new treatments, some of which may lead to a cure in the future. Every traditional mesothelioma treatment started as a clinical trial. Participating in a clinical trial gives you to access new treatments and expands your options. Some survivors have a clinical trial to thank for their lives.
Live a healthy lifestyle: You can help improve your prognosis by eating healthy and getting plenty of exercise. The stronger your body is, the better it is equipped to fight the disease. A healthy immune system can also help you recover from side effects caused by major treatments, like surgery or chemotherapy, and improve your overall quality of life.
About Survival Rates
Survival rates are part of your prognosis, but it's important to remember that they are just numbers. Doctors use survival rate statistics to help determine the prognosis of their patients depending on the factors of their condition.
No matter the survival rates associated with your diagnosis, there are exceptions to the rule mesothelioma survivors have proven that it's possible to outlive a prognosis.
You may see mesothelioma survival rates as a 5-year percentage, or for a specific amount of years and months. Five year rates show the percentage of patients who survived 5 years after they were diagnosed, and specific years or months reflect how long a patient survived after they were diagnosed or received treatment.
According to the most recent statistics from the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the current 5-year survival rates for mesothelioma are:
Your doctor may also relate your survival rate to the cancer stage and location of the mesothelioma. For example, stage 2 mesothelioma patients have a better prognosis than stage 4 patients, and patients with mesothelioma originating in the abdomen have a better prognosis than patients with pleural mesothelioma.
Survival rate statistics also are also specific to the cell type and location of mesothelioma. Depending on how far the cancer spreads, doctors may have limited options when removing it with surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy.
Earlystage mesothelioma hasnt spread as far as advancedstage mesothelioma, and is easier to remove. If you have a history of asbestos exposurethe only known cause of mesothelioma getting diagnosed as soon as possible may allow you more treatment options, and give you a better chance to improve your prognosis.
Understanding Your Prognosis
Your survival rate is based on statistics researchers gather from the experiences of patients in the past its not an exact prediction of your future. Doctors use such statistics to help explain how your diagnosis may affect your health, quality of life, and treatment options. To start improving your prognosis, seek treatment from a doctor who has experience with mesothelioma patients. He or she will confirm your diagnosis, and create a treatment plan tailored to your needs.
Our Patient Help Team can have a conversation with you about your diagnosis, and can help connect you to experienced doctorsfor free. Speak with a member of our team and get started on improving your prognosis.
Read the original here:
Mesothelioma Prognosis, Life Expectancy, and Next Steps
- Diagnosing Pleural Mesothelioma with Lung Fluid: The Battle of the Biomarkers - Surviving Mesothelioma - March 24th, 2017 [March 24th, 2017]
- Republican Health Care Bill Includes Asbestos Exposure Funding for Libby Residents - Mesothelioma.com - March 24th, 2017 [March 24th, 2017]
- Pembrolizumab shows promise in treatment of mesothelioma - Science Daily - March 24th, 2017 [March 24th, 2017]
- Veterans with Mesothelioma Benefit from Telephone Triage - Asbestos.com - March 24th, 2017 [March 24th, 2017]
- Mesothelioma Survival Rates Slowly Improving - Mesothelioma.net Blog (blog) - March 24th, 2017 [March 24th, 2017]
- Understanding Mesothelioma Caregiver Styles - Asbestos.com (blog) - March 24th, 2017 [March 24th, 2017]
- Mesothelioma Patients Turn to Cannabis - AlterNet - March 24th, 2017 [March 24th, 2017]
- Mesothelioma | Overview, Treatment Options and Survivor Stories - March 24th, 2017 [March 24th, 2017]
- Accelerated Approval Granted to Drug in Mesothelioma Research Pipeline - MesotheliomaHelp.org (blog) - April 8th, 2017 [April 8th, 2017]
- New Study Affirms Mesothelioma Survival Benefit with Post-Surgical IMRT, According to Surviving Mesothelioma - Benzinga - April 8th, 2017 [April 8th, 2017]
- The Key to Mesothelioma Treatment Success with Immunotherapy - Surviving Mesothelioma - April 8th, 2017 [April 8th, 2017]
- New Evidence Supports Post-Surgical IMRT for Mesothelioma Treatment - Surviving Mesothelioma - April 8th, 2017 [April 8th, 2017]
- Shorter Mesothelioma Survival Linked to High Platelet Count - Asbestos.com - April 8th, 2017 [April 8th, 2017]
- Mesothelioma Victims Center Now Appeals to All Diagnosed ... - Yahoo Finance - April 8th, 2017 [April 8th, 2017]
- Early research suggests first immunotherapy for mesothelioma on the horizon - Medical Xpress - June 6th, 2017 [June 6th, 2017]
- Bristol-Myers Squibb's Opdivo, Yervoy put the brakes on mesothelioma in phase 2 - FiercePharma - June 6th, 2017 [June 6th, 2017]
- Methanol from African Plants Kills Mesothelioma Cells - Asbestos.com - June 6th, 2017 [June 6th, 2017]
- Mesothelioma Patients to be Celebrated on National Cancer Survivor's Day - Mesothelioma.net Blog (blog) - June 6th, 2017 [June 6th, 2017]
- IO Strategy In Mesothelioma Finally Gets Mapped Out | Seeking Alpha - Seeking Alpha - June 6th, 2017 [June 6th, 2017]
- New Blood Test Could Mean Earlier Mesothelioma Diagnosis - Surviving Mesothelioma - June 6th, 2017 [June 6th, 2017]
- Using Viruses to Boost Mesothelioma Immunotherapy - Asbestos.com - June 6th, 2017 [June 6th, 2017]
- Resilience Can Help Mesothelioma Patients and Their Families ... - MesotheliomaHelp.org (blog) - June 7th, 2017 [June 7th, 2017]
- Janet Stanton Schnitzer Remembers Her Father's Mesothelioma Battle - Mesothelioma & Asbestos Awareness Center (blog) - June 7th, 2017 [June 7th, 2017]
- Treating Mesothelioma: A rare, aggressive caner - ABC2 News - June 7th, 2017 [June 7th, 2017]
- Asbestos and Mesothelioma Lawsuits: What to Expect | Nolo.com - June 7th, 2017 [June 7th, 2017]
- Mesothelioma Victims Center Now Urges a Roofer/Insulator With Mesothelioma to Call About Why It Is Necessary to ... - PR Newswire (press release) - June 9th, 2017 [June 9th, 2017]
- Mesothelioma Patients May Have Another Treatment Option With FDA Expanded-Use Approval of Lung Cancer Drug - MesotheliomaHelp.org (blog) - June 9th, 2017 [June 9th, 2017]
- A Breath Test for Mesothelioma? - Surviving Mesothelioma - June 9th, 2017 [June 9th, 2017]
- Mesothelioma Cancer: 12 Essential Facts - Asbestos News - June 9th, 2017 [June 9th, 2017]
- Mesothelioma - NHS Choices - June 9th, 2017 [June 9th, 2017]
- 15-year Mesothelioma Survivor Living Life By Design - Asbestos.com (blog) - June 9th, 2017 [June 9th, 2017]
- Mesothelioma Cancer Overview | Experienced Lawyers Here to Help - June 11th, 2017 [June 11th, 2017]
- Mesothelioma Victims Center Now Urges a Diagnosed Machinist to Call for Direct Access to Journeyman-Level ... - PR Newswire (press release) - June 12th, 2017 [June 12th, 2017]
- Honeywell Fails in Appeal Against Mesothelioma Verdict - Mesothelioma.net Blog (blog) - June 12th, 2017 [June 12th, 2017]
- Mesothelioma Patients Can See Improved Survival By Reporting Side Effects - MesotheliomaHelp.org (blog) - June 12th, 2017 [June 12th, 2017]
- What is Mesothelioma? | Surviving Mesothelioma - Surviving Mesothelioma - June 13th, 2017 [June 13th, 2017]
- Cases of Pleural Mesothelioma - Surviving Mesothelioma - June 13th, 2017 [June 13th, 2017]
- The Importance of Cancer Research in Immunotherapy - Mesothelioma.com (blog) - June 14th, 2017 [June 14th, 2017]
- Hopes High for Mesothelioma Immunotherapy Treatment ... - Mesothelioma.net Blog (blog) - June 14th, 2017 [June 14th, 2017]
- Asbestos Sprayers Face Higher Lifetime Mesothelioma Risk ... - Surviving Mesothelioma - June 14th, 2017 [June 14th, 2017]
- Remembering Loved Ones Lost to Mesothelioma, Looking Forward to Progress in Treatment - MesotheliomaHelp.org (blog) - June 14th, 2017 [June 14th, 2017]
- Chicago Public Schools Ignoring Asbestos Problem - Mesothelioma.com - June 16th, 2017 [June 16th, 2017]
- Length of Time Between Surgeries a Marker for Mesothelioma Survival - Surviving Mesothelioma - June 16th, 2017 [June 16th, 2017]
- Mesothelioma Survivor Deals with Pain 15 Years After Surgery - Asbestos.com (blog) - June 16th, 2017 [June 16th, 2017]
- Nivolumab and Ipillimumab Show Promise in Treating Mesothelioma Recurrence - Mesothelioma.com - June 16th, 2017 [June 16th, 2017]
- Mesothelioma Patients Should Heed FDA Warnings Regarding Miracle Cures - MesotheliomaHelp.org (blog) - June 16th, 2017 [June 16th, 2017]
- Mesothelioma Patients May Benefit from Marijuana Research - Mesothelioma.net Blog (blog) - June 17th, 2017 [June 17th, 2017]
- The Challenges of Research in Immunotherapy - Mesothelioma.com (blog) - June 17th, 2017 [June 17th, 2017]
- Despite Mesothelioma Diagnosis, Dad Loved Father's Day - Asbestos.com (blog) - June 17th, 2017 [June 17th, 2017]
- I Want to Keep Writing About Mesothelioma and My Family's Journey Because It Matters - MesotheliomaHelp.org (blog) - June 17th, 2017 [June 17th, 2017]
- Mesothelioma Clinical Trial Opens with High Expectations - Asbestos.com - June 17th, 2017 [June 17th, 2017]
- Cediranib May be Safe Supplement to Mesothelioma Treatment - Surviving Mesothelioma - June 17th, 2017 [June 17th, 2017]
- New Trial Finds VEGF-Inhibitor May Safely Boost Mesothelioma ... - Benzinga - June 18th, 2017 [June 18th, 2017]
- Mesothelioma Symptoms - Identify Early Warning Signs - June 18th, 2017 [June 18th, 2017]
- Mesothelioma Victims Center Now Urges a Diagnosed Construction Worker or Plumber to Call for Instant Access to the ... - PR Newswire (press release) - June 20th, 2017 [June 20th, 2017]
- Mesothelioma Treatment May Benefit From New Discovery ... - Mesothelioma.net Blog (blog) - June 20th, 2017 [June 20th, 2017]
- The Influence of BAP1 on Mesothelioma Survival - Surviving Mesothelioma - June 20th, 2017 [June 20th, 2017]
- Clinical Trial to Assess If Radiation Therapy Can Bring Effective Relief from Mesothelioma Pain - MesotheliomaHelp.org (blog) - June 20th, 2017 [June 20th, 2017]
- Asbestos Exposure Attorneys - Mesothelioma Lawsuits ... - June 20th, 2017 [June 20th, 2017]
- Can a Breath Test Diagnose Mesothelioma in the Early Stages? - Asbestos.com - June 21st, 2017 [June 21st, 2017]
- Mesothelioma Compensation Center Now Urges an Electric Utility Worker or Electrician with Mesothelioma to Aim High ... - PR Newswire (press release) - June 21st, 2017 [June 21st, 2017]
- Nurse Explains Mesothelioma Staging - MesotheliomaHelp.org (blog) - June 21st, 2017 [June 21st, 2017]
- 5 Questions: Treatment options exist for mesothelioma - Las Vegas Review-Journal - June 21st, 2017 [June 21st, 2017]
- Steve McQueen's Wife Pushes for Asbestos Ban - Mesothelioma.com - June 21st, 2017 [June 21st, 2017]
- Remembering Mesothelioma Victims in the UK - Mesothelioma.com (blog) - June 21st, 2017 [June 21st, 2017]
- Peritoneal Cancer Index: What it Means for Mesothelioma Patients - Mesothelioma & Asbestos Awareness Center (blog) - June 21st, 2017 [June 21st, 2017]
- Mesothelioma Risk Continues to Rise for Decades After Asbestos Exposure - Surviving Mesothelioma - June 21st, 2017 [June 21st, 2017]
- Nintedanib Combination Delayed Progression in Malignant Mesothelioma - Cancer Network - June 22nd, 2017 [June 22nd, 2017]
- Polish Study Confirms That Mesothelioma Risk Only Increases With ... - Mesothelioma.net Blog (blog) - June 22nd, 2017 [June 22nd, 2017]
- The Mesothelioma Victims Center Now Urges a Diagnosed Navy ... - PR Newswire (press release) - June 22nd, 2017 [June 22nd, 2017]
- Targeted Therapy May Soon be Primary Approach for Mesothelioma Treatment - MesotheliomaHelp.org (blog) - June 23rd, 2017 [June 23rd, 2017]
- Time Between Surgeries Helps Predict Mesothelioma Survival - Asbestos.com - June 23rd, 2017 [June 23rd, 2017]
- Testicular and Cardiac Mesothelioma - Surviving Mesothelioma - June 23rd, 2017 [June 23rd, 2017]
- Mesothelioma Veterans Center - Access Benefits & VA Claims - June 23rd, 2017 [June 23rd, 2017]
- Malignant Mesothelioma (Asbestos Cancer) > The Mesothelioma ... - June 23rd, 2017 [June 23rd, 2017]
- Mesothelioma Law Firm | Sokolove Law - June 23rd, 2017 [June 23rd, 2017]
- MicroRNAs May Be Key to Better Immunotherapy for Mesothelioma - Surviving Mesothelioma - June 24th, 2017 [June 24th, 2017]
- Mesothelioma Survival Rate | Factors Affecting Survivorship - June 24th, 2017 [June 24th, 2017]
- Scientists "Turn Off" Tumor-Protecting Protein in New Mesothelioma Study, According to Surviving Mesothelioma - Benzinga - June 26th, 2017 [June 26th, 2017]
- Symptoms of Mesothelioma - Critical Signs to Watch For - June 26th, 2017 [June 26th, 2017]