Prognosis and survival rates of mesothelioma
Prognosis depends heavily on the histopathological type of the tumor, and as with all cancers the earlier the diagnosis the more promising the prognosis. However, even with all the advances in the fields of surgery, the novel techniques being used with chemotherapy, and the new technologies being used in radiotherapy, the prognosis of malignant mesothelioma is unfortunately poor. The tumor usually grows insidiously, causing little distress. It is then able to spread covertly to other parts of the body and thus become virtually incurable. The goal of treatment then changes from trying to cure the disease to relieving the patient’s symptoms.
Mesothelioma prognosis is improved with certain histological types, in younger individuals, and in female patients. Older individuals usually have a less promising prognosis.
The average life expectancy after surgery is about 12 to 21 months. Patients who are diagnosed late and are thus not candidates for surgery have an average life expectancy of about 15 months.
The life expectancy for pericardial mesothelioma is about ten months.
Mesothelioma survival rates are as follows:
- Pleural mesothelioma:
- One year survival rate is 73%
- Five year survival rate is 12%
- Peritoneal mesothelioma:
- One year survival rate is 92%
- Five year survival rate is 52%
