Pleural mesothelioma is a rare and fatal form of cancer, but physicians are working relentlessly to identify ways to extend survival and improve quality of life. Now, a new study recently published in Discover Oncology provides answers to the pivotal question of how much surgery actually helps patients diagnosed with the rare asbestos-related disease.
Mesothelioma Surgery Nearly Doubles Median Survival
The study, jointly published by researchers from Zhejiang Cancer Hospital and the Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Diagnosis & Treatment Technology on Thoracic Oncology (Lung and Esophagus) in Hangzhou, China, found that patients who have surgery to remove their tumors live significantly longer than those who do not. The group bases its conclusions on an analysis of more than 6,000 cases from the National Cancer Institute’s Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database.
Of 6,008 patients included in the study, 2,026 had surgical resection as part of their treatment. Those who had surgery survived a median of 17 months, compared with 9 months for patients who did not. Because the data came from a registry rather than a controlled trial, researchers used statistical techniques to balance baseline differences between the two groups. After those adjustments, surgery was linked to a 40 percent lower risk of death.
Mesothelioma Outcomes Differ for Women
Noting that not all mesothelioma patients are considered eligible for surgery, the researchers then narrowed their focus to patients to those whose tumors were found to be operable and found that the results held up. Eligible patients who went forward with surgery lived a median of 17 months, while eligible patients who chose not to have surgery lived a median of 10 months.
Though patients of both sexes were found to have benefited from surgery, the researchers found that women with mesothelioma experienced a noticeably larger survival advantage than men. This finding is particularly notable because women represent a smaller share of mesothelioma cases. The study also suggests that mesothelioma care has improved over time. The researchers compared two periods, 2000 to 2009 and 2010 to 2018, and found that overall survival improved from the first to the second. That gain coincided with a rising share of eligible patients receiving surgery. The increase in surgery, however, was smaller among women than among men, even though women appeared to benefit more.
Mesothelioma Patients Still Face Barriers to Surgery
Mesothelioma treatment decisions are almost never simple. Though this study shows an association between surgery and survival, it does not necessarily prove that surgery alone caused the difference. Still, the authors concluded that surgery provides a real survival benefit, especially for women. They also warned that too many patients who qualify for surgery don’t get it, and they called for continued efforts to help eligible patients reach the operating room.
If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, the Patient Advocates at Mesothelioma.net are here to help. Contact us today at 1-800-692-8608 to learn how we can connect you with valuable resources.
