Mesothelioma Prognosis

Mesothelioma is a rare, but aggressive malignant cancer caused by exposure to and subsequent inhalation of asbestos. It is found in the mesothelium of the internal organs in the body. The mesothelium, also known as mesothelial tissue or mesothelial cells, is a protective layer of cells that lines organs such as the lungs, abdominal cavity, and heart. It has been estimated that the incidence of mesothelioma cancer in industrialized Western nations is as high as 40 per million.

Once a mesothelioma diagnosis has been made, the doctor will talk with the patient about their mesothelioma prognosis, mesothelioma life expectancy, mesothelioma survival rate, and mesothelioma treatment options available. The mesothelioma prognosis can vary greatly between patients depending on many factors such as the stage of the disease, location of the disease, and the patient’s age, sex, and other factors. Early detection of the disease is the best way to avoid a poor mesothelioma diagnosis. For the best prognosis it is important to diagnose the disease before it has had a chance to spread to other organs and areas in the body.

Factors that Affect the Mesothelioma Prognosis

There are several important factors that should be discussed before a satisfactory explanation of the mesothelioma prognosis can be made. Some things that should be understood are how to obtain an early diagnosis, what the symptoms of mesothelioma are, and mesothelioma treatment options available. Once these are understood, coming up with a mesothelioma prognosis and life expectancy for patients can be achieved.

Mesothelioma symptoms will vary depending on which form of mesothelioma develops, how advanced the disease is, as well as other patient-related factors. The most common type of mesothelioma occurs in the lungs. This type is called pleural mesothelioma and accounts for about 70% to 75% of all mesothelioma cases. Peritoneal mesothelioma affects the abdominal cavity and accounts for approximately 20% of the cases, while pericardial mesothelioma is found in the mesothelium lining the heart and accounts for roughly 5% of all cases. Very rarely will other internal organs be involved, but it does occur. A person’s genetic makeup, as well as their personal habits, such as whether or not they smoke, will make some people more susceptible than others to developing mesothelioma.

The Best Mesothelioma Prognosis Requires Early Detection

One of the most important things to know about mesothelioma is that the symptoms don’t normally show up for 20 or 30 years after exposure. However, if you wait until symptoms appear before getting diagnosed with the disease, the mesothelioma prognosis will be poor. The reason for this is that the disease will have progressed, and possibly spread to other areas of the body, for two or three decades. Detecting the disease after it has had a chance to spread will give a very poor prognosis. For the best prognosis the disease should be diagnosed before any symptoms begin to appear.

To detect mesothelioma before any symptoms become apparent requires you to get regular medical examinations to specifically look for signs of the disease. If you’ve been exposed to asbestos, the best way to catch it in its earliest stages is to get routine exams. Other than pure luck, this is the only way to diagnose the disease early. This makes it important to know how to recognize asbestos products at home or in the workplace. If asbestos is found in a building, by law there will be a notice posted on that building. The chances are very good that any building you go into will be safe, but it is important to be able to recognize potential asbestos products. Whenever asbestos products are found, they should be tested for asbestos and then appropriate steps taken if asbestos is indeed present.

The mesothelioma prognosis is better for women than it is for men. Also, patients that are less than 45 years of age have a better prognosis than older patients. Unfortunately, even the best mesothelioma prognosis may not be what you want to hear. The average mesothelioma life expectancy after a diagnosis has been made is about one year. However, almost 40% of patients under 45 years of age lived more than five years, and about 20% of patients between the ages of 45 and 54 lived more than five years.

On the positive side, if an early detection is made it is sometimes possible to remove the tumor through surgery, which can greatly improve the mesothelioma prognosis. It should be mentioned that mesothelioma treatment can be very expensive, but there are mesothelioma lawyers that may help you get mesothelioma compensation that will pay for the treatment you receive from your mesothelioma doctors. The question “what is mesothelioma?” is the first step toward a more positive mesothelioma prognosis. Once you know what it is and how to detect it as early as possible, your chances for a longer life expectancy are much greater.