Mesothelioma survival rates are based on statistics about the historical lethal effects of mesothelioma and the effectiveness of treatments. A prognosis is a report formulated by a doctor based on several factors about the individual case of mesothelioma that is under review. It is important that these two things are not confused because individually, mesothelioma survival rates can vary from less than one year to well over five years.
As a statistical survival rate in relation to group data, the average survival rate of most mesothelioma patients is one year or less. Knowing that a person has the chance at long-term survival can greatly influence the response to treatment. Stress about impending death can cause the body to be less effective at fighting cancer and thinking that you have no chance of survival is certainly stressful.
There are several components of the disease that make up the prognosis for an individual cases that also influence mesothelioma survival rates in group statistics.
- Mesothelioma type
- Type of cancer cells that are present
- The current stage of mesothelioma
- Receptivity and response to treatment and therapies, including age and general health
- Location of cancer cells\tumors and their sizes
- How much metastasis, if any, has occurred (the cancer has spread to other, distant)
Once all of these factors are determined, medical professionals can combine the information to determine a course of treatment, therapy, and the prognosis. In creating the prognosis, they will compare the facts about an individual’s case to the group statistics, including mesothelioma survival rates. This piece of the prognosis is known as “life expectancy” and is often an amount of time the patient is expected to live if no treatment is administered or if the patient does not respond to treatment.
The prognosis also takes into account other complications that may occur and the overall health of the patient. Certain existing conditions can make it impossible for the best type of treatment to be administered. This would adversely affect the patients proposed survival rate comparison.
When comparing a person’s diagnosis to things like mesothelioma survival rates, the medical expert must discover into which group the patient best fits, as well as which group the patient will likely belong to during and following the recommended treatment program.
Mesothelioma Survival Rates Impact Life Expectancy in Prognoses
Many times, a prognosis for a mesothelioma patient is poor because the cancer is discovered at a late stage. Most people who are diagnosed with mesothelioma were exposed to asbestos fibers many years ago, up to fifty years in some cases. This means the fibers have had a lot of time to do a lot of damage. Cancer is the culmination of decades of damage and the amount of cancer damage directly impacts survival rate statistics and individual life expectancy.
Although mesothelioma survival rates when diagnosis is made in later stages of mesothelioma are often short, some patients may be given a prognosis with a five-year mesothelioma survival rate when he or she is diagnosed early and treatment begins earlier in the mesothelioma’s progress. Early diagnosis usually means that there are more treatment options and that the body will better respond to treatments.
As indicated in the table below, early detection happens at an early stage in the cancer and puts the person in a category of mesothelioma survival rate that improves the prognosis.
| Mesothelioma Prognosis: Stages and Rating (Rating Key : 1=Best Possible, 4=Worst Possible) |
|---|
| Stage | Description | Prognosis Rating |
| Stage I | Cancer cells are in one location and have not spread | 1 |
| Stage II | Cancer cells have spread to nearby organs | 2 |
| Stage III | Cancer cells have spread to nearby organs, lymph nodes, and structures. | 3 |
| Stage IV | Cancer cells have spread to distant organs and parts of the mesothelium. | 4 |
Mesothelioma Survival Rates and Treatment Options
People who are diagnosed in stages one or two of the cancer have the best chance at a longer applicable survival rate. Those who are diagnosed in later stages may fare worse simply because the best method of treatment, surgery, may not be an option. In some cases, mesothelioma is so severe that an entire lung must be removed. In these types of cases, data shows the mesothelioma survival rate to be much lower than those who can receive surgery to remove isolated tumors. In later stages, medical experts have to rely on traditional cancer treatments that may further harm the health of the patient.
Some of the most common options for mesothelioma cancer treatment are surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. While a few advances have been made in these methods, chemotherapy and radiation are effective in only about 5% of the population.
Traditional cancer treatments include:
- Surgery
- Chemotherapy
- Radiation
- Photodynamic Therapy
- Immunotherapy (also known as “biotherapy)
- Gene Therapy
Other treatments considered complementary therapies and are generally accepted as possible methods to reduce symptoms or help with treatment side effects. These types of treatments aren’t included in mesothelioma survival rate statistics.
- Acupuncture
- Breath-Training
- Aroma Therapy
- Exercise (Yoga and others)
- Meditation and Prayer
Mesothelioma survival rates are most impacted by a person’s ability to receive surgical treatments. Removing cancer from the body through surgical excision is the most effective way of eliminating cancer. Because it’s not always feasible, some people aren’t able to improve their survival rate group application.
Also contributing to survival rates are previous conditions, complications, location of the tumor, and family history. If a person has a family history that predisposes them to cancers, for example, they are more likely to be resistant to treatments. If mesothelioma cancer has grown in the abdomen in such a way that it has become intertwined with the intestines or a vital organ, it may be impossible to surgically remove the cancer. It may also interrupt the function of the organ and lead to further complications. Mesothelioma survival rates drop significantly for people with organ dysfunction, heart disease, diabetes, and obesity because treatment options are mitigates.
