Survival Rate of Mesothelioma

Survival Rate of Mesothelioma

Although the prognosis for surviving mesothelioma has generally not been that positive in the past, new treatments are being investigated all the time that can help to improve this prognosis. The survival rate for mesothelioma will vary between patients, but there are several factors that have an influence on how likely it is that someone will completely recover from the disease.

The Latency of the Disease

Mesothelioma can be present in the body for many years before any symptoms of the disease begin to appear. This can be as long as 40 to 50 years. The longer the cancer has been in the body, the lower the survival rate because it is likely that it would have spread to other areas of the body and it may not be able to be operated on.

The Age of the Patient

Generally speaking, the younger a person is when the disease is diagnosed, the higher the chance of survival. Death rates from this disease are much lower in younger patients. This may be because if patients are diagnosed at a younger age, then the cancer is more likely to be in the early stages where it is more treatable.

Any Other Medical Conditions

If a patient has other medical conditions as well as mesothelioma, then this can lower the survival rates. This is especially true in older patients with perhaps more than one other medical condition, and those suffering from conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and hypertension. In many cases treatment options are limited for people suffering from these conditions.