The Maune Raichle Law Firm

Mesothelioma Survival

Mesothelioma is an extremely aggressive cancer which is quick to spread and is located in an area which can be difficult to treat. Mesothelioma, however, does not need to be a hopeless diagnosis. Treatment does exist, and survival, especially in the cases of early diagnosed mesothelioma, is becoming more common as the disease is better understood. Clinical trials, lab research, and experimentation on the part of many oncologists is making long term survival following the mesothelioma diagnosis increasingly common.

The simple fact that has made mesothelioma extremely hard to treat until recently is that the early symptoms of mesothelioma were repeatedly dismissed until the cancer progressed to the point where it was no longer treatable. Currently early diagnosis is becoming increasingly common thanks to increased awareness among both doctors and those individuals who are most likely to develop mesothelioma. Patients now commonly receive x-rays as soon as they come in to a doctor's office complaining of painful and labored breathing. This early imaging helps to aid to early stage diagnosis, thereby positively effecting the survival rate of mesothelioma.

The other major factor which effects patients' chances of survival is age. The majority of those who are diagnosed with mesothelioma are older and quite often have other illnesses, some of which may also be related to asbestos exposure. Age complicates chemotherapy as it in itself can cause the death of many individuals especially those of advanced age. Although mesothelioma is most common among older men who were exposed to asbestos years ago, younger individuals who have developed mesothelioma without asbestos exposure tend to have a better chance of long term survival with early detection.