Mesothelioma Cancer

Mesothelioma: What's the Prognosis?

Mesothelioma, also called mesothelioma cancer and malignant mesothelioma, is a rare, serious form of lung cancer that results from prolonged exposure to asbestos. (It is sometimes colloquially referred to as “asbestos cancer.”) It has a very long latency period, meaning that the lag between exposure to asbestos particles and the incidence of the first symptoms is often decades long. Additionally, mesothelioma symptoms are very similar to other, less serious respiratory ailments in its early stages. As a result, patients tend to be diagnosed late, which does little to help their prognosis.

Malignant Mesothelioma

In fact, malignant mesothelioma has one of the higher mortality rates among all cancers. The inhalation/ingestion of asbestos fibers can lead to the development of malignant cells in the mesothelium, a sac of tissue between the lungs and the chest cavity. The tumor tends to press against the lungs as it grows throughout the mesothelium, making breathing difficult.

Malignant Mesothelioma

Several factors impact the prognosis of a patient diagnosed with mesothelioma cancer. Among these are how long the patient was exposed to asbestos, and in what concentration. Another is the age of the patient; a relatively young individual who is healthy overall has a better chance of beating the disease. Also important is how soon a malignant mesothelioma diagnosis is made; if the disease is caught in Stage One or Stage Two (of four stages), the patient's prognosis is improved. If the entire affected area of the mesothelium can be removed and a course of chemotherapy and/or radiation applied, mesothelioma can be survivable.

Malignant Mesothelioma

Unfortunately, due to the lengthy latency of mesothelioma cancer, it is often not caught early. The average survival time following a mesothelioma diagnosis is about one year, although with aggressive therapy, some patients have lived as long as ten years after being diagnosed.

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Mesothelioma Too much exposure to asbestos can lead to mesothelioma, an aggressive form of lung cancer. Asbestos is commonly used especially to all military because of its unique durability and resistance to heat.