• Pericardial Mesothelioma
• Mesothelioma Life Expectancy
• Mesothelioma Prognosis
• Mesothelioma Treatment
• Mesothelioma Survivors

Mesothelioma Life Expectancy

There is nothing more frightful than finding out you or someone you love has been diagnosed with mesothelioma. Although, with modern technology and treatments, people diagnosed with mesothelioma continue to outlive the life expectancy of someone who has this cancer. No one likes to bear the thought of a time limit on life, but it does become a real question to those who fall victim to this disease. There are many contributing factors to consider when determining life expectancy of a mesothelioma patient. They include the patient's general health, age, the stage of the disease and what treatment options are chosen to combat this illness.

Understanding this disease helps the doctors determine a reasonable time of life expectancy. Mesothelioma typically has a long latency period and because of this, it is usually not caught until it is in its late stages. But in general, once found and diagnosed, doctors give a life expectancy between four and 18 months, depending on the individual case. Additionally, although that is an average estimate of life expectancy, it is important to remember it is an estimate. Some patients have been known to live another 20 years after treatment. Cancer, in any form, is an unpredictable disease, so doctors can only go with what determining factors they have and the statistics they are given to study. At the end of the day, there are always exceptions to the rule, no one is a statistic. It is imperative the patient and their family and friends stay hopeful and optimistic for the best and longest life expectancy results. Age and what treatments a patient decides to try are factors that play into life expectancy estimates.

Age

The younger the patient is, the longer his life expectancy might be. Based on past studies, the five-year survival rate for persons under 45 years old is almost 40 percent, but drops significantly for those 45-54 years old down to 15.7 percent. Patients who are 55-64 years old are given a 7.5 percent chance of reaching the five-year survival rate, while those over 75 years old are given less than a 3 percent chance.

Traditional Treatment

Depending on the individual case, there are several different treatment routes the patient can go. There are traditional treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Early stage mesothelioma patients might elect to try all three in their battle against the disease. These treatments can greatly extend life expectancy when successful.

Non-Traditional Treatment

Today, there are many non-traditional treatments, experimental treatments, and clinical trials available to patients, and in some cases, these treatments are increasing the life expectancy for those with mesothelioma. These new therapies include immunotherapy, hormonal therapy and photodynamic therapy. Alternative treatments, which are becoming more common, are those such as acupuncture, meditation, massage and yoga. Clinical trials are test new medications and treatments. All of these non-traditional treatments are designed to prolong life and improve the quality of life for the patient as well.

Contact your physician for more information.