Mesothelioma Treatment and Prognosis
The prognosis for mesothelioma is determined by a variety of factors, including the stage of cancer and type. Patients with mesothelioma diagnosed earlier have better treatment options.
Patients who undergo pleurectomy surgery or a decortication have a better chance of success. Experts in mesothelioma can assist patients explore all their options for treatment, including clinical trials.
Early Detected
In general the earlier a person gets diagnosed with mesothelioma, the better their chances of survival. However even with the best treatment, some patients do not survive mesothelioma-related diagnosis. A lot of research is being dedicated to finding ways to detect the disease at an earlier stage. The Mesomark test, which analyzes the biomarker that is released into the bloodstream by mesothelioma tumor cells, is an effective test. This biomarker can stay high for a long time before symptoms show up which makes it possible to detect mesothelioma earlier.
The prognosis of a patient with mesothelioma will be affected by the patient's symptoms history, type of mesothelioma and where the cancer has spread. Patients with a mesothelioma of the pericardial or pleural region have a better prognosis than those suffering from sarcomatoid and pericardial mesothelioma.
Other factors that may influence the prognosis for mesothelioma include the stage of cancer at diagnosis, age and gender. Generally, women have a better mesothelioma prognosis than males. People who are younger and healthier at the time of their mesothelioma diagnosis also have a better chance of surviving.
The mesothelioma prognosis of a patient will also be influenced by the procedure they undergo. For example, patients who undergo a pleurectomy/decortication surgery have the best prognosis as it removes most, if not all, visible tumors in their lungs. Patients who undergo extrapleural pneumonectomy (which involves the removal of a small portion of the lungs) are not the same chance of a favorable outcome.
There are a variety of options to improve the mesothelioma treatment, for example, seeking a second opinion from a mesothelioma expert, and taking part in new clinical trials. Also, following a doctor's guidelines regarding exercise, diet and body stress reduction techniques can help patients stay healthy. Some mesothelioma patients have even beat their initial prognosis and even achieved Remission. This means that they no longer show any symptoms of cancer that is active.
Surgery
Mesothelioma prognosis depends on many factors, including the stage of cancer, the type of cell and other factors that are that are in the patient's control. A positive response to treatment may extend survival past the initial prognosis. Certain patients suffering from stage 1 cancer can experience complete tumor disappearance. However, patients diagnosed with stage 4 cancer have a less favorable outlook.
The stage of mesothelioma a patient is a factor in their prognosis because the earlier a doctor treats the cancer, the better the outcome. The location of the cancer can also make an impact. Pleural mesothelioma affects the organs' linings in the chest. In contrast, peritoneal mesothelioma affects the abdomen's lining and digestive system. In general, people with the more prevalent mesothelioma pleural tend to have a greater survival rates than those with peritoneal mesothelioma.
In the treatment of pleural mesothelioma doctors may opt for surgery to remove the cancerous tissue or to ease symptoms such as breathing problems and chest pressure. Chemotherapy and radiation are two other treatments that are recommended to kill cancerous cells or slow down their growth. Pemetrexed is a popular chemotherapy drug for pleural fibrisis.
Other factors that affect mesothelioma prognosis include the types of cancer cells as well as age and gender. In general, patients with epithelioid mesothelioma have a better prognosis than those suffering from sarcomatoid or biphasic variants. In addition, patients who are younger have a better mesothelioma prognosis and women are more likely to live longer than men, though the reasons for this remain unclear. However, mesothelioma specialists at a mesothelioma clinic can review the various treatment options available and decide which best suit a patient's needs. They can also discuss clinical trials that provide experimental treatments that could improve the prognosis. This includes immunotherapy which has been proven to have promising results in recent studies.
Chemotherapy
The prognosis for mesothelioma is based on the average survival rate of other patients, but each case is unique. By following the advice of their physicians mesothelioma sufferers can improve their prognosis. They can also take part in clinical trials for mesothelioma which has improved survival rates.
Getting a second opinion is also crucial. When Alexis Kidd did this, she learned that her mesothelioma was not as advanced as doctors had thought. She was able to treat her disease before it got more advanced and improve her prognosis.
Type, location and stage of cancer cells are other factors that can affect a person's prognosis for mesothelioma. Malignant mesothelioma can be divided into three different types which include epithelial (epidermal) and the sarcomatoid (sarcoma) and biphasic/mixed. Each cell type has its own survival rate. Epithelial mesothelioma patients generally have a better chance of survival when compared to patients with sarcomatoid and mixed mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma is usually not diagnosed until it has progressed to a late stage. Mesothelioma may mimic common illnesses like colds, flu and stomach viruses. Being able to identify mesothelioma early is essential to ensure the best mesothelioma outlook.
Mesothelioma treatment options have grown more diverse over the past decade. Numerous studies have demonstrated that immunotherapy can improve mesothelioma survival rates. It is important that victims seek out a mesothelioma specialist to receive the most up-to-date treatments.
In mesothelioma treatments addition to chemotherapy and surgery patients can also improve their mesothelioma prognosis by making healthy lifestyle choices. Patients who exercise regularly and eat a balanced diet tend to have a better immune system. This helps them fight the effects of mesothelioma treatments and stay strong during recovery.
Radiation
The prognosis of mesothelioma is dependent on the type and location of the cancer. The outlook is better for those with epithelioid tumors, as they are easier to treat. Those who have mesothelioma that is sarcomatoid, and tends to spread quickly and is more difficult to treat, are worse.
The patient's age and their overall health can affect the prognosis. Patients who are younger are healthier and can more easily endure surgery and chemotherapy treatments. They are also more likely to recognize symptoms earlier and react and receive a diagnosis of mesothelioma. Women are more likely than men to respond well to treatment and have a good prognosis for mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma treatment can relieve breathing problems, such as breathing difficulties and pressure on the chest due to fluid accumulation. Doctors may order chest X-rays to determine if there are any changes in the lungs. They can also perform MRI, CT scan or Postron emission Tomography (PET) to see the location of mesothelioma and how far it has spread. They can also test the blood sample to determine the levels of certain proteins associated with mesothelioma.
The surgical options for pleural sarcoidosis include extrapleural pleurocystectomy (EPP) or pleurectomy and decortication (P/D). Both surgeries eliminate the affected lung, the linings of the lungs, and also the diaphragm. They can also insert an insertion tube in the chest cavity to remove the fluid. They might also prescribe drugs that destroy cancerous cells or slow their growth, like carboplatin or pemetrexed.
Immunotherapy, which is a promising treatment that is improving the prospects of those suffering from mesothelioma. It does this because it targets the cancer cells' receptors and makes them more responsive to medications.
Palliative Care
Patients with mesothelioma shouldn't accept the doctor's estimation of their life expectancy. Instead, they should get a second opinion from a specialist who could offer more hope due to the different stage of mesothelioma, or a different treatment option.
The location and type of mesothelioma also affects survival rates. The most common form of mesothelioma affects the lung's lining (pleura) while the less-common kind affects the lining of the abdomen and is known as peritoneal mesothelioma. Pleural mesothelioma is a better prognosis than peritoneal mesothelioma due to the it is more straightforward to remove in surgery. However, patients who have the more aggressive sarcomatoid cell type, or biphasic mesothelioma, often have a less favorable prognosis than epithelial mesothelioma patients.
In addition, a person's general health and age play a factor. Patients who are younger have a better prognosis for mesothelioma since they are more likely to recognize symptoms earlier and receive a diagnosis earlier. They also are more likely to be candidates for surgery. On the other hand, patients who are older are more likely to experience complications resulting from radiation or chemotherapy treatments and have a less favorable mesothelioma prognosis.
There is no cure for Mesothelioma. However, treatments can extend life and improve quality of life for patients. They can ease pain and suffering, and also reduce symptoms, such as nausea, so that patients can concentrate on their lives and spending time with loved ones.
New treatment options continue to improve the mesothelioma outlook. Many mesothelioma patients are living longer than their original prognosis. Some have even entered Remission, which means that the tumors shrink and disappear. This is encouraging, as it shows that the prognosis doesn't limit a victim's ability to live a full, healthy life.