Like all other forms of cancer, the prognosis for mesothelioma is not good. However, mesothelioma is a form of cancer that has an excellent response to treatment and can be cured. The life expectancies for many patients with mesothelioma are based on many factors, such as age, tumor size, location and extent, but the overall survival rate is high. In the majority of cases, the five-year survival rate is approximately 90%. Patients who are diagnosed with stage I or II mesothelioma are considered to be in the early stages of the disease and can enjoy better survival prospects than those with more advanced stage of the disease.
As for the life expectancies for different forms of mesothelioma, there is still a lot of confusion. Pericardial mesothelioma life expectancy may vary between four and seven years. This form of cancer accounts for around two percent of all mesothelioma cases. In this case, the disease invades the pericardial sac around the heart. As for the peritoneal mesothelioma types, it is often difficult to determine whether the patient will survive or not.
No one really knows what causes mesothelioma. There is a widely held theory that exposure to asbestos is responsible for this condition. Asbestos fibers can enter the body by way of contaminated soil and by contact with contaminated saliva and mucous membranes of people who have the condition. When these fibers come in contact with the lungs, they may cause inflammation and damage. Once this happens, the asbestos fibers start feeding on oxygen and may ultimately grow into tumors in the lung tissues and elsewhere in the body.
As for the survival rates for patients with this type of mesothelioma, they range from fifty to ninety percent. However, some studies indicate a much higher survival rate for children. The factors that contribute to the survival rate also affect the prognosis. A doctor may have to conduct a specific medical test in order to determine the prognosis in individual cases.
Some people are at a much higher risk of developing either peritoneal mesothelioma or pericardial mesothelioma. This risk is increased if the patient has a family history of this condition or if the patient already has one or more signs or symptoms of this disease. Abnormal moles or other growths on the abdominal, chest or pelvis area could also increase the odds of a patient developing this condition. For this reason, doctors often advise their patients to get regular mammograms, ultrasound examinations and chest x-rays as part of their cancer monitoring. This helps them to keep an eye on the health of their abdomen lining.
The prognosis of peritoneal mesothelioma life expectancy vary greatly. In most cases, patients diagnosed with this type of cancer are given a very good chance of surviving the disease. They can improve their chances of survival by undergoing several treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation and surgery. Patients should speak to their doctor to determine the best course of treatment for them.
