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Mesothelioma Life Expectancy

Although mesothelioma remained a medical mystery for some time, doctors, researchers and scientists have made huge strides in the study of the disease. It is now known that there is a direct link between asbestos exposure and the development of mesothelioma. Many companies in various industries used asbestos-containing materials throughout much of the 20th century because of the naturally-occurring mineral's ability to resist fire and hazardous chemicals. As a result, asbestos was used as an insulator in pipes, boilers, in flooring coverings, ceiling tiles and much more. Asbestos was used, and can still be found, in many of the buildings constructed prior to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ban of the 1970s.

Once asbestos becomes friable, meaning it is easily damaged, it releases particles that are invisible to the naked eye. The asbestos fibers are harmful and often deadly if inhaled or ingested by humans. Affecting the lungs, heart or abdomen, asbestos fibers embed themselves in the linings of these vital organs and eventually turn cancerous.

Prognosis Factors for Mesothelioma Patients

There are a number of different factors that factor into the type of prognosis a mesothelioma patient receives. Although most patients developed the rare and deadly cancer through the same process, mesothelioma experts look at specific factors that determine the life expectancy of individuals. Some of the factors that are considered include:

  • Latency period of symptoms
  • Age at diagnosis
  • Type of mesothelioma
  • Stage of mesothelioma

The overall health of a patient is also factored into the prognosis. The two most important of the above factors in considering the life expectancy of a patient tend to be the stage of the cancer and age. Mesothelioma experts will also look at when a patient was exposed, how they were exposed and how long the exposure lasted.

Life Expectancy

Pleural mesothelioma is the most common type of the disease with 75 percent of patients developing this form. Following that is peritoneal with about 20 percent and pericardial with approximately 5 percent. Patients with pleural mesothelioma tend to have short life expectancies and few patients make it to the five-year mark.

However, age plays a big role in a patient's life expectancy. Those patients under the age of 45 have the highest probability of making it to the five-year mark. That number decreases with age, as a mesothelioma patient who is 75 years or older has a 2.5 percent chance of making it to the five-year mark.

Age is not the only factor that contributes to a patient's prognosis. The stage the cancer is in also plays a similarly vital role in the life expectancy a physician will give a patient. There are essentially four stages of mesothelioma, depending on the model the physician is using. If a patient is in stages one or two, they have the highest probability of both hitting the five-year mark and possibly beating the cancer. A life expectancy of about 359 days is given to patients in these stages, though the number varies. That number drops for patients in stages three or four, averaging around 112 days.

Getting Help

The earlier you see a doctor, the more treatment options will be available to you. If you want to know more information about mesothelioma and life expectancy, fill out the form below.