A number of factors are involved in determining the life expectancy of mesothelioma patients, and every patient has a unique case. And there is constant work being done toward finding ways to increase the life expectancy of mesothelioma patients, so the life expectancy for a mesothelioma patient today is likely better than what it was five years ago.
For mesothelioma patients, the median life expectancy — that is, the high point on a bell curve — is 4 to 18 months. However, an individual patient's case has much more to consider.
Factors Involved
The factors that affect the life expectancy of mesothelioma patients include:
No Cure Yet
The stage of a cancer such as mesothelioma is an important indicator of how long a patient can expect to live. Unfortunately, there is no cure yet for mesothelioma, and if a patient has been diagnosed with localized or advanced mesothelioma, he or she may have a maximum life expectancy of just five years or so. However, there are cases in which mesothelioma patients have lived longer.
Early Detection, Aggressive Treatment
Some studies have indicated that among patients whose mesothelioma is revealed early and treated aggressively, about half will have a life expectancy of two years, and one-fifth will have a life expectancy of five years. Among patients whose mesothelioma is advanced, only five percent can expect to live another five years.
Get Examined
The importance of diagnosing mesothelioma early cannot be overemphasized. If you worked with asbestos at some point in your life, or if you were exposed to a significant amount of asbestos in a non-work setting, you should see a physician about the possibility of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases now, even if you have not had any symptoms. If you wait until you are experiencing the symptoms of mesothelioma, you're missing a chance to catch the disease at an early stage.
More Information
If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or would like to learn more about asbestos-caused diseases, contact us today.