Similar to other forms of cancer, a person’s life expectancy depends upon several factors:
* The stage of the cancer at the point of diagnosis.
* The ability of the patients to receive and respond to treatment.
* The overall health and age of the individual, as well as the amount to which the cancer has spread or metastasized.
man deep in thoughtSadly, in the case of mesothelioma, it is rare for a favorable prognosis to be achieved. This is due to the fact that malignant mesothelioma appears dormant for up to three decades after the initial exposure to asbestos has occurred. This means that the cancer has often advanced to Stage 3 or 4 before the correct diagnosis is made by a physician. By this time, the cancer has often spread from its original location to other areas such as the lymph nodes.
Determining Prognosis
There are several factors which contribute to either a favorable or unfavorable prognosis.
Type – The first way in which the cancer is classified is by the type of tissue which is affected. Epithelial mesothelioma typically results in the most positive prognosis and is also the most common form, consisting of 50% of all cases. The second is sarcomatoid mesothelioma which accounts for 15% of cases and the third is a combination of the other two forms.
Location – The types of cancer can also be differentiated based upon the locale on the primary tumor. The first form is pleural mesothelioma which is located in the pleura of the lungs. The second is peritoneal mesothelioma which is located in the abdominal lining. Other mesotheliomas can occur in other locations such as the pericardium of the heart and rarely, in testicular tissue.
Stage of the Disease – Due to its long latency, mesothelioma is often not diagnosed until its late stages, thus decreasing the likelihood of a positive prognoses.
Metastasis – Because of the late stage of the cancer at the usual point of diagnosis, it is more than likely that the cancer has spread. The greater extent of metastasis, the more likely that the prognosis will be unfavorable.
General Health of the Patient – Patients who have better overall health and are younger in age typically have a more favorable outcome than those who are older or have other health issues.
Survival Rates
Currently, only 40 percent of patients survive one year after diagnosis and only 10 percent survive past 5. These rates have improved greatly over the last 10 years and will hopefully continue to improve as researchers develop new means of diagnosing the illness as well as treating it.
Improving the Mesothelioma Prognosis
care giverScientists continue to research advances in both diagnostic tests, an example of which is the Mesomark assay, for quicker diagnoses as well as new treatment options such as immunotherapy.
References:
American Cancer Society
Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation
* The stage of the cancer at the point of diagnosis.
* The ability of the patients to receive and respond to treatment.
* The overall health and age of the individual, as well as the amount to which the cancer has spread or metastasized.
man deep in thoughtSadly, in the case of mesothelioma, it is rare for a favorable prognosis to be achieved. This is due to the fact that malignant mesothelioma appears dormant for up to three decades after the initial exposure to asbestos has occurred. This means that the cancer has often advanced to Stage 3 or 4 before the correct diagnosis is made by a physician. By this time, the cancer has often spread from its original location to other areas such as the lymph nodes.
Determining Prognosis
There are several factors which contribute to either a favorable or unfavorable prognosis.
Type – The first way in which the cancer is classified is by the type of tissue which is affected. Epithelial mesothelioma typically results in the most positive prognosis and is also the most common form, consisting of 50% of all cases. The second is sarcomatoid mesothelioma which accounts for 15% of cases and the third is a combination of the other two forms.
Location – The types of cancer can also be differentiated based upon the locale on the primary tumor. The first form is pleural mesothelioma which is located in the pleura of the lungs. The second is peritoneal mesothelioma which is located in the abdominal lining. Other mesotheliomas can occur in other locations such as the pericardium of the heart and rarely, in testicular tissue.
Stage of the Disease – Due to its long latency, mesothelioma is often not diagnosed until its late stages, thus decreasing the likelihood of a positive prognoses.
Metastasis – Because of the late stage of the cancer at the usual point of diagnosis, it is more than likely that the cancer has spread. The greater extent of metastasis, the more likely that the prognosis will be unfavorable.
General Health of the Patient – Patients who have better overall health and are younger in age typically have a more favorable outcome than those who are older or have other health issues.
Survival Rates
Currently, only 40 percent of patients survive one year after diagnosis and only 10 percent survive past 5. These rates have improved greatly over the last 10 years and will hopefully continue to improve as researchers develop new means of diagnosing the illness as well as treating it.
Improving the Mesothelioma Prognosis
care giverScientists continue to research advances in both diagnostic tests, an example of which is the Mesomark assay, for quicker diagnoses as well as new treatment options such as immunotherapy.
References:
American Cancer Society
Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation
