Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer developed after prolonged and unprotected exposure to asbestos. Most of the times mesothelioma prognosis depends largely on the type of and the general health of the patient. Other factors for mesothelioma prognosis include treatment methods and the patients' response to them.
Prognosis for epithelioid mesothelioma should be seen by patients as the time the doctor expects them to be able to survive with this kind of cancer. Most of the cases are expected to live another 12 to 18 months after the initial diagnose, although some epithelioid mesothelioma patients reached almost 5 years.
Epithelioid mesothelioma prognosis
Epithelioid mesothelioma, together with sarcomatoid and biphasic mesothelioma are all malignant types of the cancer. Prognosis of any of the above types of mesothelioma is mostly similar, differing only if the stage is different. Here are some of the epithelioid mesothelioma prognosis factors taken into account:
- the stage of the cancer when it was discovered
- the general health and immunity of the patient
- the way the patient responds to mesothelioma treatments
- the age of the patient
- other factors that influence the prognosis are a healthy diet and if the patient maintains a way of life that allows for the treatment to give its' best
Other mesothelioma types prognosis
Other types of mesothelioma, including peritoneal, pleural and epithelial have very different prognosis. Peritoneal and pleural mesothelioma are a little less severe, compared to epithelioid or biphasic mesothelioma, which means that prognosis should be a little longer for patients that suffer from the milder types of the cancer.
The problem with this kind of prognosis is that most of the times it is not accurate, giving a shorter life expectancy. This is an advantage for patients, because they can be sure to live at least 30 percent longer than expected, if treatment and diet are followed exactly as the mesothelioma doctor recommends.
Prognosis of any type of mesothelioma can also be influenced by alternative treatment methods, but not because they attack the cancer physically, but because they provide the patient with morale support and symptomatic relieve, allowing the victim to concentrate on the diet and treatment period.
Statistics show an increase in prognosis or mesothelioma life expectancy for patients past the last few years as a result of new and improved treatment methods. The use of new alternative methods has also improved the general prognosis of mesothelioma patients.
Feel free to contact asbestosis and mesothelioma centers if you would like to know more about mesothelioma prognosis. It is completely free.