Unfortunately, the overall prognosis for patients with malignant mesothelioma remains poor. Often, by the time symptoms appear and a diagnosis is made, the disease is advanced. The average length of survival is around one to two years from diagnosis, and only about 7% of those diagnosed survive for five years or more. Research scientists and doctors, however, are pursuing several promising improvements in treatment. Treatment decisions are based on the location of the cancer, the stage of the disease, and the patient’s age and general health. The three types of standard treatments used are surgery (removing the cancer), radiation therapy (using targeted high-dose x-rays or other high-energy rays to kill cancer cells) and chemotherapy (using drugs to destroy the cancer). In order to achieve optimal results, these treatments may be combined.
The chance of recovery for a person with mesothelioma depends on several factors, including:
- Age of the patient
- Appearance of the cells under a microscope
- Location of the cancer
- Response to treatment
- Size of the cancer
- Spread of the cancer throughout the body
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