Mesothelioma Prognosis

The inhalation or ingestion of unseen microscopic asbestos fibers, over a period of time can lead to mesothelioma cancer, a deadliest type of cancer or asbestosis, a non-cancerous, chronic lung ailment. Excessive asbestos exposure, though rare, can result in such deadly conditions. Mesothelioma prognosis informs you about the likely course and outcome of the disease mesothelioma. Remember, it is just a prediction and no one can tell exactly about the advance of the cancer or effect of the treatment, for a particular patient. Prognosis for mesothelioma will depend upon various factors such as for how long has been the person exposed to asbestos, for how long had he the symptoms of mesothelioma, how he responds to the treatment, his overall health, stability of his mind, etc. Let us first see what is exactly meant by mesothelioma cancer.

Mesothelioma Cancer

The inhaled or ingested microscopic asbestos fibers settle down and stick firmly to the lungs, affecting the lungs or heart or the abdominal cavity. When the lining surrounding the lungs is affected by this cancer, it is called pleural mesothelioma cancer. When the cancer affects the lining surrounding the stomach, it is called peritoneal mesothelioma cancer. When the lining surrounding the heart is affected, it is known as pericardial mesothelioma cancer. Direct or indirect exposure to asbestos can cause mesothelioma. Asbestos mine workers, ship builders, construction workers, ship breakers, clutch or brake liner workers, building renovators, mechanics can come into contact with asbestos fibers directly. Their hair or clothing can carry the asbestos fibers and they can be passed to all those who come into contact with them. Mesothelioma cancer and asbestosis are totally different conditions. Fever, weight loss, fatigue, anemia and digestive and respiratory disturbances are some of the main mesothelioma symptoms. Other symptoms will vary according to the type of mesothelioma. For instance, abdominal pain, abdominal mass, increased abdominal girth, distention of the abdomen, ascites (fluid in the abdomen) will be noticed in case of peritoneal mesothelioma.

Asbestosis

Over exposure to asbestos can make you breathe microscopic asbestos fibers. These fibers as are lodged firmly into the lungs, lead to lung scarring resulting in a drastic reduction in breathing capacity. It is not a cancer, but as with mesothelioma, the signs and symptoms of asbestosis appear years after asbestos exposure. So it is diagnosed, usually when the condition of the patient gets worsened drastically, leading to permanent disability and even death. Severe asbestosis can result in lung cancer, heart complications, increased blood pressure within the lungs and mesothelioma. Asbestos health effects include constant cough, constant chest pain, constant dry crackling sound while breathing, constant fatigue, etc. Medications and vaccination are the available treatments for asbestosis. Patients should avoid smoking. Pulmonary hypertension is noticed in cases of asbestosis. As the lungs are deteriorated to a great extent, even a minor cold can create a severe complication. Asbestosis prognosis will depend upon how much the scarring of the parenchymal tissue of the lungs has damaged the lungs. It is detected with the help of X-ray, CT scan or MRI. The damage done by asbestosis cannot be reversed. Excessive lung fluid can be drained and inhalers can be used to improve breathing. The asbestos prognosis is usually negative as the disease is diagnosed when the condition of the patient is worsened. A few years before, about 550 cases of death per year (or 45 per month, 10 per week, 1 per day) due to asbestosis were noticed in the U.S.

Prognosis of Malignant Mesothelioma

In the United states, about 2000 to 3000 new cases of mesothelioma cancer are diagnosed each year. The factors that influence the prognosis are

• Stage at which the cancer is diagnosed
• Type of mesothelioma
• Size of the tumor
• Location of the tumor
• Whether the tumor can be surgically removed
• Extent of other symptoms like fluid in lungs or abdomen
• Whether the patient quits smoking or not

Malignant mesothelioma prognosis mainly depends upon the stage at which it is diagnosed. Generally, mesothelioma is not diagnosed until the advanced stages (stage 3 or 4) of the development of cancer. It may take 30 to 40 years after the initial exposure to asbestos, for the cancer to display its symptoms. Even when the symptoms are noticed, they can be misguiding as they often resemble less serious conditions. As a result, the prognosis of this disease is usually poor and the mesothelioma cancer life expectancy is also very poor. Mesothelioma is generally diagnosed in persons over 55 years old.

American Cancer Society's statistics about mesothelioma prognosis, inform us that the five-year relative survival rate for mesothelioma patients is around 10 percent. It was 9 percent at the end of 2002. It seems that the rate has improved. The one-year survival rate is now about 40 percent and this rate has also increased in the past five years. Throughout the 1990s, it was considered as an exceptional case if the patient could survive for more than a year after diagnosis. The average length of survival reported throughout the last five years has been 10 to 11 months after diagnosis. New ways and techniques to cure mesothelioma are being researched. Some of the results from the numerous clinical trials conducted, are very promising. Individuals suspecting any kind of asbestos exposure in the past, should also consult the doctors immediately; as the latest 'asbestos exposure treatment' can help prevent serious health problems. The mesothelioma life expectancy can be improved to a remarkable extent when detected earlier, perhaps mesothelioma can be totally cured, in future. People will not then succumb to this deadly disease within one year of diagnosis.