Causes, Treatment, And Expectancy of Life for Mesothelioma Patients

Mesothelioma is known to have a poor prognosis, as it is one of the most aggressive forms of cancer. Being diagnosed with mesothelioma can be shocking, often leaving patients with many questions and few answers. Organizations like The Asbestos Cancer Organization offer patients a plethora of information regarding treatment options as well as mesothelioma alternative treatments.

As this disease carries a 20 to 50 year latency period, it is typically difficult to catch stage 1 mesothelioma. Often times patients are not diagnosed until the later stages mesothelioma such as stage 4 mesothelioma.

Causes of mesothelioma

Asbestos exposure is the only known cause of mesothelioma, although there are some other factors that can increase the risk of developing the disease. Exposure to asbestos usually occurs at the workplace but has also occurred in homes, schools, and other environments. Symptoms usually take 20 to 50 years and can mimic other diseases, which often prolongs the diagnosis or can even lead to a misdiagnosis. As a result, many people who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma choose to take action against their former employers which typically leading them to file a mesothelioma claim or filing a mesothelioma lawsuit. Each state has its own statute of limitations when it comes to these forms of lawsuits, speak with a West Virginia mesothelioma attorney to get a better grasp on West Virginia mesothelioma statutes of limitations.

Factors Affecting Treatment

As with all forms of cancer, various factors will play a role in a mesothelioma prognosis for a patient. The age of the patient is a critical part to consider as this can affect how well he or she can respond to chemotherapy treatments or other forms of conventional mesothelioma treatment. The second consideration is overall health. A patient already has a pre-existing medical condition or generally in poor health may find it difficult to undergo treatment for mesothelioma. Other risk factors, such as smoking, can also reduce the average life expectancy of mesothelioma. The prognosis of a patient is partly related to the nature of their mesothelioma diagnosis, including mesothelial cell location and type, as well as the stage of mesothelioma. Stage 3 mesothelioma and stage 4 mesothelioma typically have the poorest prognosis.

Types of Mesothelioma

The symptoms and manifestations of cancer vary depending on the type of mesothelioma. Pericardial mesothelioma, peritoneal mesothelioma, and pleural mesothelioma are the main forms of this disease. Of these three types, pericardial mesothelioma has the worst prognosis, as it is the most difficult to diagnose. Filing a mesothelioma claim in West Virginia can be challenging, but a Charlotte WV mesothelioma lawyer can help with this.

However, the prognosis for peritoneal mesothelioma has improved in recent years due to more recent treatments such as intraperitoneal hypothermal chemotherapy.

Mesothelioma stage and treatment options

Staging is another important element in determining the estimated life expectancy. Mesothelioma is classified into four major stages. Early detection is ideal for longer life, but many patients are faced with late detection and therefore a narrower range of cancer treatment options that are too costly.

The first stages allow for more aggressive treatments, while stages 3 and 4 limits what the body can handle. Late stage mesothelioma treatments often focus on improving the quality of life for a patient and are usually not as aggressive. Stage 1 usually involves surgery with the possibility of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, while stage 2 also includes options for surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. Some oncology specialists may also recommend multimodal treatments, which have been shown to prolong the life of some patients, including surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and some forms of surgery. Natural mesothelioma treatments are on the rise as options for patients.

The average life span of mesothelioma patients

Stage 1 mesothelioma is often times not diagnosed as the cancer is in its early stages and symptoms can often times appear to physicians as symptoms from another disease. According to previous survival statistics, they have an average life expectancy of about 21 months. Sex, age, health, and other risk factors may decrease or prolong this estimate. Without treatment, some patients have lived for more than one year, others less than 6 months.

For stage 2 patients, life expectancy is usually 19 months. Stage 3 patients have an average lifespan of 16 months and Stage 4 typically has 12 months. Only 9% of individuals diagnosed survive for more than 5 years.

In the end, the forecasts vary from one patient to another because doctors take into account all the important factors. While new mesothelioma treatment can prolong life, it is ultimately up to the patient to decide which path they would like to take. But in the end, if you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, mesothelioma claims can assist you with compensation for treatment and other damages. Speak with a West Virginia mesothelioma lawyer about filing a mesothelioma lawsuit.

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