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Is Mesothelioma Always Fatal?

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Infographic bar graph detailing global mesothelioma deaths, broken down by countries

What Is a Fatal or Terminal Disease?

A fatal disease, also known as a terminal illness, is a medical condition that is not curable and will likely cause the death of a patient. Mesothelioma is considered a fatal disease, meaning patients typically pass away from it. Although aggressive forms of cancer can have an average survival rate of less than 12 months, new and advancing treatment options can extend their lives. While there is currently no cure for mesothelioma, some patients live well beyond the average survival rates.

How Long Can a Patient Live with Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma tumors can develop in different areas of the body. If a patient has pleural mesothelioma, the cancer is located in the chest, while peritoneal mesothelioma is found in the abdomen. In rare cases, mesothelioma can occur in the thoracic cavity or the testes. The mesothelioma survival rate represents the percentage of patients who survive for five years following diagnosis. Typically, patients diagnosed with mesothelioma have a survival time of approximately one year.

Patients with peritoneal mesothelioma tend to live longer than those with pleural mesothelioma. The average 5-year survival rate for pleural mesothelioma is about 12%. Peritoneal mesothelioma survival rates are significantly better, with 52% of patients living at least five years.

Life expectancy, a term related to survival rate, is the average time a person may live with mesothelioma. Individual factors, including age, gender, stage of the disease, cell type, and overall health, often determine the life expectancy of a mesothelioma patient. Following a mesothelioma diagnosis, mesothelioma doctors can determine a patient’s estimated life expectancy of a patient, which is usually one to five years.

Pleural Mesothelioma Survival Rates

  • 1 year – 73%
  • 3 years – 23%
  • 5 years – 12%
  • 10 years – 4.7%

Peritoneal Mesothelioma Survival Rates

  • 1 year – 92%
  • 3 years – 74%
  • 5 years – 52%
  • 10 years – 39%

Is Mesothelioma Curable?

Mesothelioma is a fatal disease. Even if caught early, mesothelioma is not currently curable. In very rare cases, it can partially go into remission, meaning the cancer is still present but not active. Treatment options are available to extend a patient’s life and make side effects more manageable.

Mesothelioma Survival Rates with Treatment

Specific treatment options are associated with improved survival rates, including combining surgery with chemotherapy. One technique is called hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC). During the HIPEC procedure, doctors first remove pleural tumors and cancerous tissue with surgery, followed by applying heated chemotherapy directly to the site. This advanced procedure can improve survival rates among mesothelioma patients. Many mesothelioma patients who undergo this procedure live longer than five years.

Mesothelioma Survival Rates without Treatment

Some life-extending treatment options can be too invasive for certain patients. Without qualifying for procedures like HIPEC, patients in later stages can undergo non-curative treatments designed to make side effects less intense. These palliative treatments, including pain medication, manage mesothelioma symptoms near death.

Without treatment, survival rates and the life expectancy of mesothelioma patients depend upon other prognostic factors, including the patient’s overall health, age of onset, and gender. Younger and female mesothelioma patients generally have a more favorable life expectancy. Patients in earlier stages of mesothelioma can live up to two years without treatment. The average life expectancy without treatment for late-stage patients is about six to eight months.

What To Do If You Have Malignant Mesothelioma

A patient may find out they have mesothelioma after undergoing various diagnosis procedures, including imaging tests and cell biopsies. Some emerging diagnosis options, including blood tests, can help diagnose mesothelioma. After you receive a mesothelioma diagnosis, you may have questions.

Mesothelioma tends to spread fast but is different based on the location found, and outcomes vary among each patient. Imaging tests such as CT scans can often track how fast it spreads. Your doctor will work with you to develop the best treatment plan for your mesothelioma treatment journey. Before undergoing intense treatments, such as radiation therapy or surgery, doctors often encourage patients to get a second opinion.

A team of cancer care professionals, including dietitians, physical therapists, and counselors, is widely available to help patients through complementary therapies. While your cancer care team develops a treatment plan over several months following a diagnosis, consider making lifestyle changes to support your immune system. Eating healthy and moving your body can be challenging for a cancer patient; however, eating a proper diet and exercising daily can help build immunity and fight disease.

Treatment Options for Mesothelioma Patients

Mesothelioma is fatal in most cases, but treatment methods and medications are available to improve a prognosis. Patients may receive several rounds of a single form of treatment or a combination of multiple methods, including surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy, or targeted therapy.

Paying for Mesothelioma Treatment

Treating cancer is expensive, and without proper health insurance, patients may face significant medical debt. However, various sources offer financial assistance to prevent patients from burning through their savings or maxing out credit cards. Additionally, a mesothelioma patient may be eligible for free treatment through clinical trials held at any of the top medical centers for mesothelioma.

Legal Compensation and Asbestos Lawsuit Payouts

Asbestos exposure is the primary cause of mesothelioma fatality, often occurring during occupational or military service. As a result of corporate negligence, you may have the right to legal financial assistance if you were diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease.

Legal compensation options include workers’ compensation, veterans’ benefits, or personal injury lawsuits. Family members of a mesothelioma patient who passes away can receive additional funding through a wrongful death claim.

Last updated on October 30th, 2024 at 03:55 pm

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