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| Mesothelioma Prognosis |
Mesothelioma Prognosis - Early detection and aggressive treatment can help increase the duration of life for those with mesothelioma. Below is information concerning the diagnosis and treatment of mesothelioma following its detection:
- Diagnosis
- Survival Rate
- Treatment
In general, the average age at which mesothelioma is diagnosed is between 50 and 70 years old. Following a series of diagnostics tests, doctors can determine the severity and stage of a patient's mesothelioma, the patient's life expectancy, and potential treatment options and therapies to employ.
2. Survival Rate
The average survival time of mesothelioma patients is 12 to 18 months after diagnosis, though this is often because their mesothelioma was not diagnosed until it reached an advanced stage. This survival time can be prolonged through early detection and aggressive treatment therapies.
Approximately 50 percent of patients whose mesothelioma is detected and treated early live for two years, and approximately 20 percent live for five years or more. Advancements in treatment therapies have led to potentially better survival rates for those who have been newly diagnosed with mesothelioma.
3. Treatment
Several treatment options are available to those with mesothelioma, which can help fight the condition:
SURGERY
The most common surgical treatment for mesothelioma is the pleurectomy/decortication, in which the chest lining is removed. Extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP) is a less common surgical treatment that involves the removal of the afflicted lung, the chest lining, the pericardium, and hemi-diaphragm.
RADIATION THERAPY
Radiation therapy can be employed to treat localized mesothelioma. This is often performed following a surgical procedure and can be performed in conjunction with chemotherapy.
CHEMOTHERAPY
Chemotherapy can be used both prior to surgery to decrease the size of tumors or eliminate cancer cells and post-operatively to eliminate any remaining cancer cells. A combination of surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy has proven to be the best treatment plan available to extend life expectancy.
IMMUNOTHERAPY
Immunotherapy can potentially help stimulate a patient's immune system and prevent the spread of mesothelioma. While immunotherapy treatments have yielded mixed results, further study and research is ongoing, as is the case with the other treatment options listed above.
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