Understanding the Outlook for Your Mesothelioma Diagnosis
How long do you live with mesothelioma? Unfortunately, mesothelioma is an aggressive and incurable form of cancer that, while it can be treated, cannot be eradicated. As a result, after diagnosis, life expectancy with mesothelioma is 14 to 22 months. The median life expectancy of mesothelioma patients is 15 months, but the specifics of any given situation will play a large role in how long and how comfortably a patient can live with mesothelioma. While some advanced cases will result in a life expectancy of just a few months, other patients continue living for years with mesothelioma.
Your or your loved one’s doctor will be able to provide a mesothelioma prognosis and life expectancy specifically tailored to the circumstances at hand. This will also play a key role in the type of treatment your or your loved one’s doctor recommends.
Factors That Play a Role in Mesothelioma Prognoses
As previously mentioned, each individual patient will receive an individualized mesothelioma prognosis and life expectancy. There are many factors doctors take into account that go into these. Some of the key factors include:
The Stage of the Cancer: While earlier stages of mesothelioma have a better outlook, more advanced states of cancer will lead to a poorer prognosis
The Type of Cancer: There are several different types of mesothelioma; certain types (such as peritoneal) have a better prognosis than others (like pleural)
The Type of Cancer Cell: Again, like the type of cancer itself, the type of cancer cells play a role in the overall prognosis, as some are associated with a better outlook.
The Age and Gender of the Patient: Younger patients typically have a better mesothelioma prognosis and women tend to live longer, though the reasons for this are unknown.
The Type of Treatment: Different mesothelioma treatments are linked with different prognoses; your doctor can help you determine which treatment may be best.
What Is the Survival Rate of People Diagnosed with Mesothelioma?
“Five-year survival rate,” in medical terms, refers to the percentage of patients who live five years or longer after being diagnosed with mesothelioma. These rates are determined by looking at the number of patients who, after being diagnosed with a specific type of mesothelioma, go on to live for at least five more years. Though every case is different and all situations are unique, these numbers are fairly accurate due to the large numbers of people diagnosed with mesothelioma in the United States every year. The various five-year survival rates for different types of mesothelioma are:
Pleural mesothelioma: 10%
Peritoneal mesothelioma: 52% (with specific treatment)
Pericardial mesothelioma: 9%
These numbers take into account all patients of all ages and genders who are diagnosed with the specified types of mesothelioma. However, when broken down by age, those numbers change. For example, among patients under the age of 45 who are diagnosed with any type of mesothelioma, the five-year survival rate may be as high as 37%, according to some studies.
Can a Mesothelioma Prognosis Be Improved?
There are several ways to improve your quality of life while living with mesothelioma, sometimes even improving life expectancy, no matter the age or gender of the patient or the stage of the cancer. These steps may include:
Beginning treatment immediately
Combining treatments/therapies
Focusing on more aggressive treatment
Undergoing heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) for peritoneal mesothelioma
Considering alternative or complementary therapies
Joining a clinical trial/undergoing experimental treatments
Please note that you should always discuss your treatment with your doctor before making any decisions to begin or stop new, experimental, alternative, or traditional treatments. Always follow your doctor’s advice, but do not be afraid to seek second opinions from qualified medical professionals in regards to your treatment.
When Should I Hire a Mesothelioma Attorney?
Treating mesothelioma, regardless of the prognosis, is an expensive and time-consuming endeavor. If you were exposed to asbestos in your line of work or your daily life, you can file a claim and seek compensation from negligent manufacturers, employers, building owners, and others. You do not have to simply deal with the costly medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering on your own.
It’s important that you work with a knowledgeable attorney who understands how this process works and who can help you file your claim. At Richmond Vona, LLC, we dedicate a large portion of our practice to helping mesothelioma victims and their loved ones fight for the justice they deserve and the compensation they are owed. Throughout our attorneys’ years in practice, they have successfully secured hundreds of millions of dollars on behalf of victims of negligence in Western New York. We’re ready to fight for you, too.
CONTACT OUR ATTORNEYS FOR INFORMATION ABOUT MESOTHELIOMA PROGNOSIS AND LIFE EXPECTANCY
Our team is available 24/7 to take your call and assist you throughout the legal process. Our attorneys are ready to listen to your story and share how they can help. While nothing can undo the difficulties you and your family have been through, a successful asbestos or mesothelioma claim can allow you the ability to focus on getting the treatment you or your loved one needs. Reach out today with questions about the process, or for more information on mesothelioma prognosis and life expectancy.
With over 25 years of combined personal injury experience, our co-founding attorneys, John E. Richmond and Keith R. Vona, have helped injury victims and their family members recover more than $150 million in financial relief.
John E. Richmond
Co-Founding Member
As one of New York’s top personal injury attorneys, John E. Richmond understands that clients come first. With over a decade of experience representing plaintiffs, he knows how to hold negligent corporations and big insurance companies liable.
In his nearly 15 years in practice, Keith has been consistently recognized for his client service and record of results. He has been selected for inclusion in the New York Super Lawyers® Rising Stars list four times (2013 to 2016), an honor reserved for the top up-and-coming attorneys.
