Mesothelioma Life Expectancy
Mesothelioma Life Expectancy
The median life expectancy for
mesothelioma patients ranges from 12 to 21 months. The prognosis depends on
what stage the cancer is when the patient is diagnosed, as well as the person’s
overall health, age and gender.
For patients diagnosed with pericardial mesothelioma, research has indicated that survival time could range from six weeks to 15 months. Due to the rarity of cases involving testicular mesothelioma, the prognosis is unclear for that type of cancer.
There are several treatment
options to help alleviate patients’ pain and improve their prognosis. Treatment
options will depend on the patient’s health and how early the cancer is
detected. They may include:
Treatment for pleural
mesothelioma includes:
- Surgery: Surgery for pleural mesothelioma may be
used to remove as much of the tumor as possible. (Surgery is more likely to be
an option for patients diagnosed with Stage I or II pleural mesothelioma.)
- Chemotherapy: This traditional treatment method
aims to stop the cancer cells from spreading.
-
Radiation therapy: Radiation targets specific
areas to kill the cancer cells.
- Clinical trials: Patients may be able to try new
treatments that are in development and are not on the market yet by
participating in clinical trials. Your doctor can help determine which clinical
trials may be right for you.
- Holistic treatments: Patients may try acupuncture,
yoga and other holistic treatment options as a way to improve their emotional,
physical and spiritual well-being.
Treatment for Peritoneal
mesothelioma includes:chemotherapy
- Cytoreduction surgery: Referred to as debulking,
this type of surgery aims to remove cancerous tissue from the peritoneal
(abdominal) cavity.
- Heated Intraoperative Chemotherapy: Also
referred to as HIPEC, this type of chemotherapy is administered directly to the
abdominal area during surgery.
- Traditional radiation therapy and chemotherapy:
These common cancer treatments may be used in combination with other
treatments.
- Clinical trials and holistic treatments: As with
pleural mesothelioma, patients may choose to explore additional treatment
opportunities through mesothelioma clinical trials or holistic
Treatment for Peritoneal
mesothelioma includes:chemotherapy
- Pericardiectomy: This surgical procedure, which
is also referred to as pericardial stripping, removes all or a part of the
pericardium tissue. This tissue is meant to protect the heart but is not
necessary for the heart to function normally. Pericardial mesothelioma patients
typically only survive about six months if the cancerous tissue is not
surgically removed.
- Chemotherapy: This traditional cancer treatment
can be used to reduce symptoms and slow the progression of the disease.
- Clinical trials and holistic treatments:
Patients may explore treatments that are being tested in clinical trials or
turn to holistic options to ease symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma.
Treatment for testicular
mesothelioma may include:
- Radical inguinal orchiectomy or other surgeries:
A surgeon may choose to remove the affected testicle and perform a
lymphadenectomy to evaluate lymph nodes near the tumor.
- Chemotherapy: As with other types of
mesothelioma, chemotherapy may be used to slow the spread of the cancer and
ease the pain.
-
Clinical trials of new treatment options
-
Holistic approaches
Mesothelioma Facts
Researchers reported on an array
of mesothelioma statistics and hypotheses in an analysis published in the
Journal of Cellular Physiology. Among the mesothelioma facts reported:
More than 20 million people in
the United States are at risk of being diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma
due to exposure to asbestos.
The rate of mesothelioma cases in
the United States rose dramatically from the late 1950s to the early part of
this century, then stabilized at about 2,500 to 3,000 new diagnoses per year.
Mesothelioma mortality rates are
expected to rise 5 percent to 10 percent each year in most industrialized
countries around the world, with the increase continuing until approximately
2020.
The rate of malignant
mesothelioma cases in men has been on the rise over the past 50 years. However,
the rate of mesothelioma in women has not changed significantly.
About 3,000 people die from
mesothelioma each year in the United States. In addition, about 5,000 people
die from the asbestos cancer each year in Western Europe.
Because there is no cure for this
devastating cancer, more than 100,000 Americans are expected to die due to
mesothelioma over the next 40 years.mesothelioma facts
In addition to causing malignant
mesothelioma, asbestos has been proven to cause lung cancer, asbestosis,
pleural fibrosis and plaques, and laryngeal cancer.
Researchers do not believe there
is a “linear dose-response relationship” between asbestos exposure and
malignant mesothelioma. This means it is not believed that the more a person is
exposed to asbestos, the more the risk for developing mesothelioma. A person
with one-time exposure may develop the disease, while a person with a long
history of exposure may not.
Some of the biggest companies in
the United States have gone bankrupt as sick workers and their families have
successfully pursued lawsuits against them for failing to warn of the danger of
asbestos products.
Despite the large amounts
companies have been forced to pay to asbestos victims, the researchers reported
that they had not found evidence that asbestos companies had made any major
investments to assist in the prevention and treatment of mesothelioma.
Many European countries have
banned the use of asbestos products. However, the United States still allows
asbestos to be used in certain commercial products. The researchers speculated
that the continued import of asbestos-containing materials in the United
States, in addition to continued exposure from older asbestos materials that
remain in many buildings, will be mesothelioma risk factors for decades to
come.
Financial Help for Those
Struggling with Mesothelioma
For years, companies that made
and sold asbestos-containing materials knew of the danger their products could
cause but failed to warn the public. As a result, millions of hardworking
Americans unknowingly risked their lives.
A knowledgeable Belluck & Fox
mesothelioma lawyer can help you and your family pursue compensation from the
company(s) responsible for your asbestos exposure. This may include payment
for:
- Medical expenses such as surgeries,
chemotherapy, radiation, medications, hospital stays, hospice care, future
anticipated medical bills, etc.
- Lost income and reduced earning capacity if you
had to leave work due to a mesothelioma diagno sis
- Physical and emotional pain and suffering
- Wrongful death damages on behalf of those who
have lost a loved one to the preventable cancer
In addition to pursuing a personal injury or wrongful death claim, you may be eligible for veterans’ benefits, Social Security Disability benefits or workers’ compensation payments. An experienced mesothelioma attorney can discuss your situation and explain all your legal options at no charge to you during a free consultation.
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