Mesothelioma Survival Rate

for patients?  Then other questions will follow such as how long can you live with it, is it curable and treatment options. These are all normal inquires since once the patient knows and tells family and friends, they too will have questions and concerns.

Now as far as an answer like many other diseases it is difficult to say what the mesothelioma survival rate will be. There are so many factors to consider so there is no exact timeline that can be given, just what to expect since each patient is different and once diagnosed it was considered to be grim.

We see now with the varying degrees of this illness which has been brought to light with the thousands of people that were exposed to the cancerous asbestos dust after the destruction on 9/11 of the Twin Towers in NY. More than 10 years later, some have since died while there are still people surviving with it. What needs to be done now is to find better ways to diagnose it and treat it because time is a major factor in the mesothelioma survival rate and the following factors are key:

• Mesothelioma Latency Period – Similar to the 9/11 survives with mesothelioma it has a very long latency period since the disease can lie dormant for many years before it is discovered. Then it becomes more difficult to pin point when the exposure took place. With most illnesses once the symptoms appear it seems like the clock starts ticking.

• Stage of Disease once Diagnosed – After being diagnosed a Stage is assessed. For people with Stage 1 or 2 have a much better chance of surviving, with Stage 3 or 4 lack the same treatment options as Stage 1 and 2. With the latter Stages, the cancer has spread.

• Is the Tumor Operable – To determine if the tumor is operable will depend on the Stage of mesothelioma. The likelihood of an operable tumor would have more options during Stage 1 or 2 and for the most part healthy, after that once spread an operation may not be an option.

• Patients Age – For a better chance of survival, the younger the patient, the better. With studies that have been conducted, this is key factor for survival.

• Co-Illnesses – Once patients get older there may other illnesses involved that may interfere with the survival rate.

• Mesothelioma Treatment – After the Stage has been assessed the patient will be given treatment options. These options will have to be decided rather quickly so the patient does not progress to the next Stage.

One thing that is difficult with mesothelioma survival rate are the symptoms can be similar to other illnesses and is often misdiagnosed. It is unfortunate, but people that lived in the Metropolitan area after 9/11, years from now may have to remember where they were after the attack – there may be many more people diagnosed with this in the next couple of decades to come.

Mesothelioma Diagnosis

, there are additional factors to be considered. Since there are so many symptoms that mirror mesothelioma is can difficult to start there will be a review of the patients history. With the history the doctor will want to know about your medical history, when your symptoms began and if the patient has ever worked with or been exposed to asbestos.

Once the review has been evaluated the patient will receive a physical, a chest x-ray and possibly a lung function test. From there a number other tests may be performed in order to conclude that it is a mesothelioma diagnosis.

Several of the different types of mesothelioma tests may include:

Blood Tests - Two substances are looked for to check the blood levels, osteopontin and soluble mesothelin-related peptides (SMRPs), are more often higher in people with mesothelioma. Although this not confirm a mesothelioma diagnosis, it is a key part of the overall factors considered in the diagnosis.

Fluid and Tissue Sample Tests - If one of the patients symptoms is fluid buildup, this could be related to a positive mesothelioma diagnosis. The fluid is removed by your doctor by inserting a needle through the skin into the area of fluid buildup. The fluid is then examined under a microscope for cancer cells. If there are cancer cells found, further tests can be performed to see if it is mesothelioma. But just because the test comes out negative does not mean you do not have it, now a biopsy will need to be done.

You may find that the tests have different names and that is due to where the fluid buildup is:

• Thoracentesis – The chest cavity
• Paracentesis – The abdomen
• Pericardiocentesis – The membrane around the heart

There are several types of biopsies that may need to be done and vary due to the suspected location, to determine a mesothelioma diagnosis:

Needle Biopsy – This involves inserting a long, hollow needle through the skin to remove a tiny piece of a tumor along with an image test to make sure the needle finds its way to the tumor.

Thoracoscopy, Laparoscopy, and Mediastinoscopy – With these procedures, the doctor makes an incision and inserts a very thin lighted scope through it to see potential areas of mesothelioma.

• Thoracoscopy – the space between the lungs and chest wall
• Laparoscopy – the inside of the abdomen
• Mediastinoscopy -the center of the chest around the heart

Surgical Biopsy - There are some cases where a more invasive procedures may be needed in order to get a larger tissue sample for a mesothelioma diagnosis.

Bronchoscopic Biopsy – This procedure involves passing a long, thin, flexible tube down the throat to examine the airways for to take a sample of the tumor which can be pulled through the tube.

Also included in the mesothelioma diagnosis, there may be a series of imaging tests that are:

Chest X-ray - A chest x-ray may show abnormal thickening in the lining of the lung, fluid in the lungs and chest walls or other changes could suggest mesothelioma.

Computed Tomography (CT). This is known as a CT scan is a procedure where multiple X-rays and a computer create detailed images of the inside of the body. This will help determine if there is cancer, where it is and has it spread.

Positron Emission tomography (PET) – This is also known as a PET scan where radioactive material is injected and pictures are taken where if there is cancer, the cancer cells absorb a lot of the radioactive showing up brighter in cancer cells.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) – This is called an MRI scans which uses radio waves and very strong magnets to make detailed images of the body. This scan shows details of the soft tissues and help with locating the location of the tumor.

The doctor will take a look at all of the information to come up with the mesothelioma diagnosis. Once the patient has been diagnosed, there will be further discussion as to what treatment will best suit that patient.

Mesothelioma Stages

. This system was developed by Dr. Eric Buchart, an expert in mesothelioma. The Butchart system is still used by doctors in order to have a better way of communicating what stage the patient is in.

This system is based on measuring tumor size (mass) and divides mesothelioma stages into four progressive levels that indicate the advancement of the cancer are as follows:

Stage I -Mesothelioma is present on one side (either right or left) of the chest only. It is not growing into the chest wall.

Stage II- Mesothelioma invades the chest wall (usually both sides) or there is a presence in the esophagus (food passage that connects the throat to the stomach), heart, or the lymph nodes in the chest may also be involved.

Stage III – Mesothelioma has grown through the diaphragm and has reached the peritoneum (lining of the abdominal cavity) or at this point has spread to lymph nodes outside of the chest.

Stage IV- Mesothelioma has spread through the bloodstream to other parts of the body. This stage is called “distant metastatic cancer”.

So that all the doctors are on the same page, this system is widely used in order to determine what the next steps are once the patients mesothelioma stage has been determined. There will be communication with other specialists to further discuss treatment. Once treatment options are discussed, there will an opportunity to find clinical trials that are going on based on what stage the patient is in. These trials are conducted by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) so once the options are discussed, there will be a recommendation where to go from there and if the patient qualifies for one of their trials.

Mesothelioma Prognosis

of the disease would be difficult to assess due to so many variables such as what stage the mesothelioma is in and how it has progressed. It is also dependent on what organs the mesothelioma has affected and what can be now be done.

When the mesothelioma effects the lungs, the pleural mesothelioma, this can be progressive since it involves being able to breathe. There are many factors that will help with prognosis such as what the age is and how long it is suggested that are suspected to have had it.

Being a rare disease if not properly diagnosed in the beginning, which is one of the problems determining when the beginning is, it can progress. Since there are many diseases that have similar symptoms being caught early is the key.

With many pleural mesothelioma patients, it is important to have mesothelioma found in the early stages and going to the doctor can help with this. Having your work history, your age and when you started feeling symptoms available.

Depending on what is affected there are various surgical procedures that may prove to be an option and provide long term survival without a cure – but again, it depends on what has been affected and aggressive treatment. While living life to the fullest, at least as much as your body will allow you, you never know.

Some other factors affect mesothelioma prognosis are:

• The stage of cancer
• Size of the mesothelioma
• Can it be removed by surgery
• Your age and overall health
• The amount of fluid in either the abdomen or chest
• Have you already had the cancer and has it come back
• Type of mesothelioma cells

There are many factors that will help you to be able to help answer the question as to what the mesothelioma prognosis is. Having overall good health will help with the overall prognosis, never rule anything out. If you watch television you will see all types of commercials from lawyers asking if you have mesothelioma, interesting enough most people watching do not even know what it is let alone if you have it. If you have just recently found out that you do, have hope. Also having a positive outlook on life and that there could be something to help in the future.

Mesothelioma Symptoms

. It is not a definite, that you have it just at a higher risk. Most people that encounter exposure to asbestos at work make up between 70 to 80 percent of all cases, but what about the other 20 to 30 percent? They make up people that probably didn’t even know that they were exposed to asbestos.

To get more of an idea about asbestos and if you may have some passing exposure, asbestos is the name of a group of natural minerals containing strong flexible fibers that once separated can be woven. Now with this flexibility, asbestos was used in so many products it will be hard to name them all, but here are a few:

• cement
• brake linings
• roof shingles
• textiles
• insulation
• flooring
• siding

If any of these tiny asbestos particles were airborne, especially during manufacturing if inhaled or swallowed, there was exposure which could result in serious health concerns. If there were any prior health issues, exposure to asbestos besides mesothelioma, there could be the risk of lung cancer, other respiratory ailments, along with other cancers.

So what are the main symptoms of mesothelioma? Unfortunately if you do not realize that you have been exposed to it, there are usually not major symptoms for some 30 to 50 years later. The main symptoms are:

• Shortness of breath
• Pain in the chest due to fluid
• Excessive fluid
• Weight loss
• Abdominal pain due to fluid
• Bowel obstruction
• Blood clotting abnormalities
• Anemia
• Fever

Since those are the initial symptoms, if the cancer has spread any further other symptoms may include pain, swelling in the face or neck or difficulty swallowing.

One issue with mesothelioma symptoms is that there there are so many other symptoms that it could be, often it is thought to be something else. Some not so serious to a serious condition. If you or someone you know has these symptoms or you start to notice them complaining over time of several of these symptoms a doctor would need to be consulted to assess possible history to exposure so a proper diagnosis can be made.

is a cancer of the mesothelium. What is that exactly? There is the lining membrane that covers many vital organs. There are two layers, one that is directly in contact with the organ, then there is the outer layer. The mesothelium is what keeps the a fluid between the two allowing the organs to move as the need to, such as the heart which is always pumping and the lungs are always expanding and contracting as you breath.

Depending on where it is located the mesothelium has different names such as the peritoneum covers the organs in the abdomen and the pleura surrounds the lungs as well as the walls in the chest. There is also the pericardum that protects and covers the heart and there are also two that are gender specific, the mesothelial surrounds the male reproductive organs (internal) and the tunica serosa uteri covers the reproductive (internal).

With this disease the cells of the mesothelium become abnormaland start to divide without warning or control. This becomes somewhat of an internal invasion and can also affect surrounding tissue and organs. They can invade and damage nearby tissues and organs. Unfortunately the cancer cells may metastasize from where they were originally to other parts of the body.

Over the last 20 years or so there have been numerous reports that there has been an increased in the past 20 years, but that could be from knowing more about it now. Although mesothelioma is a rare cancer, currently there are about 2,000 new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed each year in the United States. Another factor is that mesothelioma occurs more often in men than in women. Also the risk increases with age, but this disease can spontaneously appear in either men or women at any age so there is always hope.

In order to get an idea of how there was exposure, is to consider that you were at risk if you were at working in a large older building, considering that the use of asbestos started in 1866. Since it was used primarily to insulate, it was not just out in the open, but if there was damage to it and it started to flake, you were.

As far as being diagnoses with mesothelioma, the first document asbestos death wasn’t until 1906, key here is documented death, during the 1970s it was proven that companies that used it knew there were health hazards – but by this time many people were exposed to it, some of which did not even know, some even to this day.