Mesothelioma is a difficult burden to bear. The disease is hard to detect and hard to treat, as many people who have struggled with it can attest. But hope is certainly not lost with a diagnosis. Most patients are concerned with the answer to one question: What are my chances?
What is the survival rate for mesothelioma?
One study of patients diagnosed with this type of cancer determined that the average patient survives 15 months after diagnosis. This applies to patients with pleural mesothelioma, affecting the lining around the lungs, and peritoneal mesothelioma, which is found in the lining around the digestive organs. Patients with the peritoneal form tend to survive longer.
What are the factors that determine survival?
The size and location of a tumor at the time of diagnosis matter, as those facts dictate the interventions that doctors and surgeons may use. The age and physical state of the patient also matter, as some younger and stronger people have a better chance of maintaining their health.
What causes mesothelioma?
The only known connection to this type of cancer is exposure to asbestos, a crystalline substance that can be inhaled when it becomes a dust. Many of the industrial applications of asbestos have been replaced by other materials, but the dangers can remain when it is not removed or abated.
How can patients get help?
A civil lawsuit for financial damages after a diagnosis may provide necessary funding for medical expenses and other costs. An attorney can help determine if liability can be shown and if a lawsuit has a good chance at success.