Mesothelioma Survival Rates
About 55% of patients with mesothelioma live more than six months, while about 35% live more than one year. Only 9% survive more than five years. Testicular and peritoneal patients generally have the best survival rates.
Survival rates can help patients better understand their prognosis and also specialists to identify potential risk factors that determine the patient's life expectancy. The survival time varies in patients with mesothelioma depending on the type, age, treatment and other factors.
Survival stats
The survival rate refers to a number of people who survived for a period of time after their diagnosis. The survival rate is different from the life expectancy in which life expectancy refers to the average life span of patients with mesothelioma. Life expectancy is usually expressed in years or months and depends on various factors such as staging, location of mesothelioma, cell type and patient characteristics. Together, these two statistics can provide information about a person's predictions.
Survival rate for mesothelioma
New diagnostic methods to detect early stage disease, as well as new treatments, help cancer patients live longer. However, many factors can affect survival rates, including gender, such as age, type and other characteristics of the patient to consider.
Age and sex
Mesothelioma survival rates depend on the age and sex of the patient. On average, younger patients have a survival rate greater than 5 years higher than that of older patients and women have a higher overall survival rate than men. This is also true for most cancers. In terms of gender, more men than women were in asbestos-related occupations at the peak of their use, resulting in greater long-term exposure.
Staging
The stage of mesothelioma at the time of diagnosis is also a determinant of survival rates. When diagnosed at stage 3 or 4, it is likely that the cancer has spread to distant parts of the body and, therefore, is more difficult to detect and treat. If diagnosed at stages 1 or 2, it is likely that the disease is localized and can be treated with surgical resection and other aggressive treatments.
Improved survival of mesothelioma
The treatment options available depend to a large extent on the type and stage of mesothelioma. It is possible that people with a more advanced diagnosis may not have the same surgical options because the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes or distant organs. However, chemotherapy or radiotherapy treatments could still be beneficial and prolong survival.
For peritoneal mesothelioma, patients undergoing cytoreduction surgery (CRS) with HIPEC have significantly higher survival rates than patients who can not undergo surgery. When combined with systemic chemotherapy as adjunctive therapy, the 5-year survival rate for patients treated with SRC + HIPEC can be as high as 67%.
In addition to traditional classic treatments for mesothelioma, patients may choose to use clinical trials to eventually increase their life expectancy, as well as to improve and maintain better overall health.
Mesothelioma survivors
Mesothelioma survival rates can provide patients with a general perspective of survival, but do not define individual cases. Advances in diagnostic tools and treatment techniques have increased life expectancy and improved survival rates for mesothelioma patients, while contributing to the long-term survival of mesothelioma.
Mavis Nye: Mavis challenged her life expectancy by 3 months after participating in a clinical trial with a new immunotherapy drug, Keytruda. She continues to advocate for asbestos awareness and to help other people diagnosed with mesothelioma through her creation of the Mavis Nye Foundation.
Paul Cowley: Paul was diagnosed with malignant pleural mesothelioma after 12 to 24 months, but overcame this prognosis after undergoing two aggressive surgeries in six months to remove his tumors and adjacent affected tissues.
Heather Von St. James: Heather challenged her prognosis at 15 months after undergoing aggressive surgery to remove her cancer. Heather, a mesothelioma survivor, uses her experience to inspire hope while promoting awareness and a total ban on asbestos.