Can You Survive Mesothelioma Cancer?
The mesothelioma lifespan of a person is contingent on their type of cancer and stage, mesothelioma treatment and other health-related factors. Some patients can improve their prognosis, and even beat mesothelioma.
Doctors determine a patient's mesothelioma's survival rate by taking a sample from their tumor for a biopsy. There are three mesothelioma types which are epithelioid, biphasic and sarcomatoid.
Age
The older you get the more likely you are for mesothelioma. The majority of mesothelioma patients are over 60 years old, and males in their 50s-70s outnumber women by 3 to 1. According to CDC statistics between 1999 and 2015, more than 54,900 Americans have died from mesothelioma. Inhalation of asbestos fibers is the main cause of malignant mesothelioma. These fibers enter the lungs and cause irritation to the lung's lining, called the pleura. This irritation can lead to the growth of abnormal cancerous cells, which can then can spread to other parts of the body.
Symptoms of mesothelioma can take between 10 and 50 years before they begin to manifest. Initial symptoms of mesothelioma can be mild and are often mistaken for other illnesses such as pneumonia or influenza. As the cancer advances and the fluid builds up in the lungs causing pain and shortness breath. It may also spread to lymph nodes, pericardium, diaphragm and chest wall.
Mesothelioma is classified as either epithelioid or sarcomatoid. The epithelioid type is the most prevalent mesothelioma, and the most responsive to treatment. Sarcomatoid is less responsive treatments and more likely to be recurrence-prone. People who have a mixture of both kinds are referred to as biphasic.
Your doctor will classify your mesothelioma according to its appearance, its progression and where it is located within the mesothelium. These classifications can be used to determine your treatment and intensity, which will improve your chances of survival.
When you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma it isn't easy to comprehend how your prognosis will be affected by these conditions. The majority of information available is statistical, which can be confusing and overwhelming. It is crucial to keep in mind that each individual's diagnosis is unique to them. Talk with your doctor about any concerns you may have regarding the general statistics you've read on the internet. They will be able to explain what the statistics mean in your particular situation. They might also be able to recommend resources to help you get the support you need.
Gender
The gender of a mesothelioma patient may affect their chance of survival. Men have lower survival rates for mesothelioma than women. This is due to a variety of reasons. For example, women visit doctors more frequently than men for routine health checks and could help in detecting mesothelioma earlier. This could aid in the diagnosis of mesothelioma and get more aggressive treatment.
Women are generally in better overall health. This could make women more suited to aggressive surgeries, such as pleurectomy-decortication (EPP) or less invasive procedures such as extrapleural lungsectomy and percutaneous biopsy (P/D). Both surgeries can cure mesothelioma and extend the life expectancy. Alternatively, the surgery option for mesothelioma patients that do not qualify for a curative procedure is palliative treatment which can help alleviate symptoms and improve the quality of life.
Women are more susceptible of being misdiagnosed than males. Because mesothelioma has a higher prevalence in men, many doctors don't consider it a possible diagnosis for women. The symptoms of mesothelioma could be similar to those of other illnesses. For example, pleural mesothelioma sufferers often experience a constant cough, difficulty breathing, and chest pains. These symptoms can be mistaken for pneumonia, bronchitis or flu. The symptoms of peritoneal Msothelioma could also be confused with other ailments like irritable bowel menstrual problems as well as food allergies and intolerances.
The mesothelioma type can also affect survival rates. According to a study, patients diagnosed with epithelioid mesothelioma had a higher survival rate than those with sarcomatoid or biphasic mesothelioma. This is because epithelioid mesothelioma cells are more responsive to treatment.
Other factors that can impact a patient's chance of survival include the type and amount of asbestos to which they were exposed, their age, and their general health. A mesothelioma expert can explain how each factor affects a patient's odds of survival. The mesothelioma sufferer will understand what to expect with their prognosis.
Type of mesothelioma
Cancerous mesothelioma can affect the linings of all organs. The signs of the disease are similar to those of many other diseases. They can also be misdiagnosed, which can delay treatment and give mesothelioma cells more time to grow. Getting an accurate mesothelioma diagnosis requires a physical exam and multiple types of tests. The most common tests are imaging tests (X-ray or CT scan) and biopsy. The doctor removes a small amount of mesothelioma and examines it under microscope to confirm the diagnosis.
In general, people with mesothelioma in the early stages and those who have mesothelioma of the peritoneal type are more likely to live longer than those who are diagnosed with mesothelioma pleural. Furthermore, the location of the tumor, or if it has a spread, can affect life duration. It may be impossible to remove cancerous cells from the tumor due to its location. In these situations doctors will attempt lung mesothelioma to fight cancer using other treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
Often, the most successful treatment plans are those that combine surgery with other treatments. Extensive surgeries such as EPP, P/D or cytoreduction using HIPEC can aid in keeping mesothelioma in check for a long time, or even for years. Following the initial treatment for mesothelioma patients can undergo maintenance treatments to avoid recurrence.
The age and health of the person at the time of diagnosis can also affect survival rates. Younger patients generally have better chances of survival due to the fact that they are healthier, which enables them to participate in clinical trials and receive the most up-to-date treatments available. Additionally they are less likely to develop other medical conditions that can interfere with mesothelioma treatment.
The type of mesothelioma and its stage are the most important factors for determining how long the patient will live. However, a patient's outlook can improve if they find the right support system, stay positive and surround them with knowledgeable advocates. Patients with mesothelioma must learn all they can about the disease and locate a mesothelioma specialist to help them with their treatment strategy. Contact our mesothelioma lawyers to learn more about the best method of treatment in the event that you or someone in your family is diagnosed with this disease.
Treatment
The rate of survival for mesothelioma varies depending on several factors. These include the stage of the cancer, a person's age and overall health. People who are diagnosed earlier tend to have better outcomes. People with a less dangerous subtype of mesothelioma tend to live longer than those with a more treatable type. Additionally, doctors can analyze the type of asbestos that a patient was exposed to in order to determine their prognosis.
Asbestos is a natural mineral used in many different industries. It was banned in year 1999 because of its toxicity and dangerous properties. Those who were exposed to this substance are at the highest at risk of developing mesothelioma.
Malignant mesothelioma is usually found in the lungs, peritoneum, or pleura and is often difficult to detect because symptoms can resemble the symptoms of other illnesses such as the flu or pneumonia. The life expectancy for the diagnosis of mesothelioma ranges from 18 to 31 months.
Doctors who specialize in mesothelioma are able to provide treatment plans that are customized to each patient's diagnosis. This may include chemo, surgery and/or radiotherapy. These treatments can be combined to improve the chance of a patient's longevity.
In some cases, the cancer has spread so much that it cannot be removed surgically. For these patients, the goal of treatment is to control the symptoms and prolong the length of their lives as long as it is possible. Palliative care is the term used to describe this kind of treatment. Sedatives and powerful painkillers can alleviate symptoms like chest discomfort, difficulty breathing, and fatigue. Lung fluid build-up can also be treated with the use of a weekly drain.
Participating in a clinical study that tests a new mesothelioma treatment can also help improve the outlook of a patient. These trials are designed to find patients the most effective treatment options.
It is important to understand that mesothelioma survival rates give an estimate of the likelihood one is to be afflicted with their cancer. These numbers are based on groups of people who have similar cases. This is the reason it's important to receive a correct mesothelioma diagnosis.