Mesothelioma Prognosis
On average, 2,500 new cases of malignant mesothelioma are diagnosed each year. Whenever a disease or condition is diagnosed, the doctor will discuss the prognosis, or what the patient can expect. This information will include details about the expected progression of the cancer, what parts of the body will be affected, the treatment options, and the expected outcome. The earlier cancer is detected, the more positive the prognosis will be. Early detection of malignant mesothelioma offers many more treatment options and better chances of survival. Once the disease has reached the advanced stages, the prognosis is generally poor. Treatment options are limited for advanced stage malignant mesothelioma, and the body may already be weakened beyond the point where it will respond favorably to treatment.
Factors Influencing Malignant Mesothelioma Prognosis
The overall health of a patient can significantly affect the prognosis, as can age. People who have few medical issues aside from cancer, get a healthy amount of exercise, and eat a healthy diet are better able to withstand the difficult treatments and surgeries common to a malignant mesothelioma diagnosis. According to the American Cancer society, most people diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma are age 55 or older, and men are five times more likely to develop malignant mesothelioma than women.
How Malignant Mesothelioma Prognosis is Determined
When a patient is diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma, doctors perform a series of tests designed to evaluate the extent of the cancer damage and how far it has spread through the body. Cancer that has not spread—or metastasized—to other areas of the body is easier to treat and remove, which is why catching it early is crucial to a good prognosis. Unfortunately, many patients never exhibit symptoms until later stages. Malignant mesothelioma is often referred to as a silent killer, one without symptoms until it is too late. Signs of late-stage malignant mesothelioma are chest pain, shortness of breath, weakness, weight loss, low red blood cell count, high white blood cell count, and high levels of LDH (lactate dehydrogenase, an enzyme) in the blood. Patients already exhibiting these symptoms often face a prognosis of less than a year to live, but many patients survive long beyond the initial prognosis.
Other factors are considered during determination of the prognosis of malignant mesothelioma. Patient medical history including family history, the patient’s age, health and whether he smokes are all important to an accurate prognosis. In addition, the doctor will pinpoint the type of cancer. Malignant mesothelioma includes pleural mesothelioma, peritoneal mesothelioma, pericardial mesothelioma or testicular mesothelioma, and the type of cancer determines the area of the body affected first. Rate of growth and spread is calculated. The location and size of tumors determines whether an operation is possible. If the tumors are operable, the prognosis is better. Once all of these things are considered, the doctor is ready to make a plan for treatment and estimate how long the patient will most likely survive.
Information Provided During the Prognosis
The doctor’s prognosis prepares the patient for what lies ahead. The doctor usually delivers the diagnosis, the extent of the cancer, the available treatment options, and how long the patient can expect to live as each different course of treatment is discussed. More aggressive cancer treatments may hold a bigger payoff in the form of longer life expectation, but also have additional inherent risk. Cancer treatment is harsh and difficult, and the doctor and patient must weigh the potential benefit against the known risk. Some malignant mesothelioma patients are so unlikely to survive treatment that it is out of the question. Others may survive with such a diminished quality of life that they may choose a less aggressive treatment, resulting in a shorter survival prognosis.
Malignant Mesothelioma Survival Rate
Current trends in research and new treatments for malignant mesothelioma are emerging gradually, and the survival rate rises a little with each new therapy or treatment that becomes available. According to Cancer Research UK, about 4 out of 10 people diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma will still be alive one year later. Two of those people will survive for an additional year, and only one will make it three years or more. Out of 100 people, eight will survive for five years. Generally speaking, the dismal survival rates for malignant mesothelioma are due to late stage diagnosis combined with the average age of the patient. Very few young, healthy adults are diagnosed early in the disease, and as a result there are no statistics to balance the survival equation.
Questions to Ask Your Doctor
What type of cancer do I have?
What can I expect from treatment?
What are my treatment options?
How can I prepare for treatment?
What can I change about my lifestyle that will improve my prognosis?
What treatment side effects will there be?
Can I do anything to help reduce the side effects?
Are there any experimental treatments that might help?
Do you know of any clinical trials I can participate in?
Who can I talk to about palliative care?
Who can I talk to about fears and concerns?
How will this affect my family? What will they have to do to care for me?
