Mesothelioma Life Expectancy and Survival Rate by Stage
Page Medically Reviewed and Edited by Luis Argote-Greene, MDThis page has been fact checked by a Medical Doctor. Sources of information are listed at the bottom of the article.
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Mesothelioma is a rare cancer that many people know very little about. Mesothelioma is directly linked to asbestos exposure, and approximately 2,500 to 3,000 people per year are diagnosed with this devastating disease. It can be overwhelming to face such terrible new, but information empowers patients to make better choices for care and expenses.
One of the most frequently asked questions asked by mesothelioma patients has to do with their prognosis. People want to know their life expectancy and if there is anything they can do to extend it. They also want to know how the disease will change their lives. Realistic expectations are important for coping and planning for the future.
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Factors Affecting Life Expectancy
An important question patients ask after a mesothelioma diagnosis is if the cancer can be cured. hey may also ask how long they have left to live. Unfortunately, mesothelioma is rarely curable. However, most patients can get a general idea of life expectancy, which depends on several factors:
- The kind of mesothelioma diagnosed (pleural, peritoneal, or pericardial) and the stage of the cancer at diagnosis
- Type of cells that became cancerous
- Whether the cancer has spread to other areas of the body
- Overall health. This includes age, fitness, smoking status, and the presence of other illnesses or diseases
Location of the Primary Tumor
An important variable in estimating life expectancy is the location of the original tumor. There are four types of mesothelioma based on location:
- Pleural mesothelioma is the most common form and affects the pleural tissue lining the lungs.
- Peritoneal mesothelioma is the next most common, originating in the lining in the abdominal cavity.
- Pericardial mesothelioma, which affects the lining of the heart is rare.
- Testicular mesothelioma, affecting the lining of the testes. This form is extremely rare.
Of these four, testicular mesothelioma has the longest average life expectancy. However, this statistic is based on a very small number of cases. Pericardial mesothelioma has an average life expectancy somewhere between that of pleural and peritoneal. Again, this is based on small numbers, which means it may not be accurate.
Of the two more common types of mesothelioma, cases that originate in the pleura generally have a longer life expectancy, but not by much. Although peritoneal mesothelioma has a shorter life expectancy, both are deadly and aggressive cancers. Most patients cannot expect to enjoy long lives after a diagnosis. This difference in life expectancy may be shifting with a new and more effective treatment for peritoneal mesothelioma. This treatment involves injecting heated chemotherapy drugs directly into the abdomen.
Median Life Expectancy by Stage
Even more important than primary tumor location in determining a life expectancy is the stage of the cancer. When a patient is diagnosed with mesothelioma, it comes with a stage designation. This stage designation describes the extent of the cancer to the patient and other doctors. The earlier the stage, the longer the life expectancy, although other factors must also be taken into account.
Mesothelioma is typically staged from one to four.
- Stage I
Stage I is an early diagnosis and rare for mesothelioma. It means the original tumor is still in one place, although it may have penetrated the tissue surrounding the pleura. Based on averages from previous cases, the life expectancy in stage I is 21 months. - Stage II
By stage II, the tumor has invaded tissues like the lung and diaphragm. The average life expectancy is 19 months. - Stage III
In stage III, mesothelioma has spread farther, possibly into the lymph nodes. Patients with stage III mesothelioma have an average life expectancy of 16 months. - Stage IV
By stage IV, the cancer has spread into lymph nodes and possibly into more distant sites in the body. Life expectancy at this stage is just 12 months.
Cell Type and Life Expectancy
Another important factor in determining mesothelioma life expectancy is the cell type. For mesothelioma, there are three main categories of cell type: epithelioid, sarcomatoid, and biphasic. Most cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed as epithelioid. This cell type has a longer life expectancy than the other two. Epithelial cells cling to each other strongly. Because they branch out more slowly, this type of cancer metastasizes more slowly, giving the patient a longer life expectancy.
In sarcomatoid mesothelioma, the cancer is mostly comprised of sarcomatoid cells. Sarcomatoid cells are more loosely attached to each other, making it easier for them to spread to other areas of the body. This kind of mesothelioma metastasizes more rapidly and has a lower life expectancy.
Biphasic mesothelioma contains a mixture of epithelioid and sarcomatoid cells. A biphasic diagnosis comes with a life expectancy somewhere between the two. The more sarcomatoid cells there are in the tumor, the lower the life expectancy.
Lifestyle Factors
Using mesothelioma type, stage, and cell type only provide limited information about how long a patient will live after a diagnosis. There are also many individual factors that impact survival time. Some are things the patient can control, like smoking. Others are beyond the patient’s control, including their age. Younger patients and non-smokers have a better life expectancy than those who are older or who smoke.
A measure called performance status can be used to sum up the protective and negative effects of individual lifestyle factors. Performance status describes the overall health, fitness, and abilities of a patient. It is rated with a grade from zero to five. A performance status of zero means a patient is fully active and not restricted by symptoms of cancer. The lower the performance status grade at the time of diagnosis, the longer the life expectancy.
There are several lifestyle factors that affect a person’s performance status. The grade will be lower for patients who don’t smoke, eat well, exercise regularly, and are at a healthy weight.
Maximizing Mesothelioma Life Expectancy
One important thing a person with mesothelioma can do to maximize life expectancy is seek medical treatment from a qualified mesothelioma specialist. These highly-trained physicians have extensive exposure to this rare disease. They also have access to the latest and most successful treatment options.
There are also lifestyle changes that can positively impact life expectancy. For example, if you are a smoker, it is very important for you to quit as soon as possible.
Survival Rates
Doctors use a statistic called survival rate as another way to estimate life expectancy. Medical researchers and physicians measure a five-year survival rate, which is the percentage of patients that live five years or more after receiving a cancer diagnosis.
A more accurate prognosis can be made by looking at five-year survival rates. These rates take into account large populations of cancer patients. For mesothelioma survival rates, only mesothelioma patients are measured. Although these numbers are useful, a prognosis is still only an estimate.
Survival rates for mesothelioma are generally low compared to many other types of cancers. Generally, patients diagnosed with mesothelioma at age 45 or older have a five-year survival rate of only 20 percent. For younger patients, the survival rate goes up to 37 percent. Survival rates and life expectancy for mesothelioma are also measured by stage.
For stage I mesothelioma, the median survival rate is 21 months. If diagnosed during stage II, the life expectancy drops to 19 months. For patients diagnosed at stage III, a median life expectancy is only 16 months. Finally, stage IV patients have a life expectancy of only one year. These are only median numbers. Individual factors influence how long a patient will survive after a diagnosis.
Treatment and Survival Rate
When looking at bulk statistics and survival rates, there are clear patterns in how treatment impacts patient survival. The more aggressive and varied the treatment, the better the survival rates.
Among patients with pleural mesothelioma, those that received only chemotherapy, survival rates were around 20 percent after two years and four percent after five years. Surivial rates increased significantly when surgical treatments were added to chemotherapy. For example, patients who received a pleurectomy, survival rates for two and five years went up to 40 and ten percent. For those who received the more aggressive extrapleural pneumonectomy, survival rates for two and five years were 37 and 12 percent.
Living with a Difficult Prognosis
It can be difficult to accept, but most patients will receive a poor prognosis after a mesothelioma diagnosis. Receiving that prognosis can be shocking. The best thing to do when getting this news is gather the support of loved ones. Being supported by people who care is the most effective way to cope with a difficult prognosis.
If you or a loved one with mesothelioma has been given a poor prognosis, you have important choices to make. Even if you choose aggressive treatment, your prognosis could remain disappointing. However, the choices you make now can make a difference in how long you live.
It also helps to spend time with people who know what you are experiencing. Your friends and family care, but they don’t necessarily understand what it is like to receive a terminal diagnosis. Consider joining a cancer support group, if you can find one. There are support groups that meet in person and online. People in these groups understand and can provide solace you won’t find anywhere else.
As a final step in coming to grips with your prognosis, you may consider starting a lawsuit to seek justice for the illness you are facing. If you were exposed to asbestos, chances are there is someone responsible for your cancer. A lawsuit can give you a sense of justice and closure, but can also provide financial assistance for medical care. These funds can also help loved ones after you are gone.
Page Medically Reviewed and Edited byLuis Argote-Greene, MD
Luis Argote-Greene is an internationally recognized thoracic surgeon. He has trained and worked with some of the most prominently known thoracic surgeons in the United States and Mexico, including pioneering mesothelioma surgeon Dr. David Sugarbaker. He is professionally affiliated with University Hospitals (UH). His areas of interest and expertise are mesothelioma, mediastinal tumors, thoracic malignancies, lung cancer, lung transplantation, esophageal cancer, experimental surgery, and lung volume reduction. Dr. Argote-Greene has also done pioneering work with video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS), as well as robotic assisted minimally invasive surgery. He has taught the procedures to other surgeons both nationally and internationally.