- Mesothelioma
- Mesothelioma Facts
- Mesothelioma Symptoms
- Mesothelioma Awareness
- Mesothelioma Lung Cancer
- Mesothelioma Causes
- Mesothelioma Risk Factors
- Mesothelioma Incidence
- Mesothelioma Diagnosis
- Mesothelioma Tests
- Mesothelioma Biopsy
- Mesothelioma Blood Test
- Mesothelioma Pathology
- Mesothelioma Prognosis
- Mesothelioma Life Expectancy
- Mesothelioma Life Span
- Mesothelioma Survival Rate
- Mesothelioma Survivors
- Mesothelioma Death Rate
- Mesothelioma Types
- Pleural Mesothelioma
- Peritoneal Mesothelioma
- Pericardial Mesothelioma
- Well-Differentiated Papillary Mesothelioma
- Malignant Mesothelioma
- Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma
- Biphasic Mesothelioma
- Epithelial Mesothelioma
- Mesothelioma Staging
- Mesothelioma Metastasis
Mesothelioma Life Span
The average mesothelioma life span for patients ranges between four and 18 months from the time of diagnosis. Around 10 percent of patients go on to live five years or more, while some patients whose cancer is caught during an early stage of development have even exceeded the five year life span.
Factors that Affect Mesothelioma Life Expectancy
- Stage of the Mesothelioma – Mesothelioma, unlike most other cancers, does not present symptoms immediately after the initial development of the disease. The long latency period – typically 20 to 50 years – often means a diagnosis will be delivered decades after the original asbestos exposure. Once mesothelioma has reached its later stages of development, symptoms are likely to arise.
- Type of Mesothelioma – Because it is the most prevalent, most mesothelioma research has focused on pleural mesothelioma cases. As a result, more knowledge and research dictate treatment for this type of mesothelioma. The other two forms – peritoneal and pericardial – are less common and a smaller body of knowledge surrounds these illnesses.
- Age at Time of Diagnosis – More than 75 percent of mesothelioma patients are 55 or older. The average age of a mesothelioma patient is 60 years. A late diagnosis will limit treatment options and may make it more difficult for the patient to handle side effects associated with treatment.
- Smoking – Smokers with mesothelioma have a drastically reduced life expectancy when compared with non-smoking patients. An already weakened respiratory system becomes even more susceptible to mesothelioma's symptoms when the patient also subjects their lungs to tobacco products.
Improving Mesothelioma Life Span
The life expectancy for any form of cancer is greatly increased with early diagnosis. Although mesothelioma symptoms generally do not arise until later in the disease's progression, those aware of a history with asbestos exposure can discuss screening programs with their doctor to catch the cancer as early as possible.
Since discovering the disease, the medical community has been searching for a cure for mesothelioma. While there is currently no known cure, many patients receive palliative treatments intended to prolong their life span while alleviating some of the pain and other symptoms associated with mesothelioma. Chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgery are the most frequently used options for combating the cancer.
Clinical trials are supervised efforts that explore new treatments with the hope of improving mesothelioma life expectancy. Many of these trials have developed promising alternative therapies that benefit trial participants, and with further testing, may prove to be a new means of treatment for future mesothelioma patients.