MALIGNANT MESOTHELIOMA PROGNOSIS

Mesothelioma patient prognosis often depends on what stage of development the malignant cancer is first discovered in.

October 25, 2010 – Every year some 3,000 individuals are diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma, a relatively rare cancer caused by occupational asbestos exposure. The best way to avoid a poor prognosis is through early detection, says the American Cancer Society.

By the time symptoms of mesothelioma appear, however, this malignant asbestos-related cancer has usually advanced to an inoperable stage. The prognosis is always better for patients when the cancer is caught in an early stage of development.

Physicians address the disease in terms of stages of mesothelioma, ranging from Stage One to Stage Four cancer.

Treatment options can include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation, as well as alternative treatments available through clinical trials and often discussed in mesothelioma support groups. Once the disease has reached Stage Four, however, treatment options become limited.

When a patient is diagnosed with Stage Four mesothelioma, their health condition often rules out the possibility of surgery. The malignant mesothelioma prognosis is poor and treatment is limited to eliminating pain and improving a patient’s quality of life.

No matter what stage of development mesothelioma is first discovered in, the cancer is nearly impossible to remedy, making any prognosis disturbing. Every case of malignant mesothelioma has individual characteristics that make generalizations insignificant.

Factors that affect mesothelioma prognosis

Other factors influencing a malignant mesothelioma prognosis include the age of the patient and the type of mesothelioma – pleural, peritoneal or pericardial.

The average mesothelioma survival rate for patients averages four to 18 months. But according to the American Cancer Society, about one out of 10 individuals with mesothelioma (10 percent) live at least five years or longer after being diagnosed. Some mesothelioma survivors have written books about their battle against the cancer.

Weitz & Luxenberg for compensation

Weitz & Luxenberg has successfully represented thousands of asbestos-injured workers against employers that failed to provide safety equipment and product manufacturers who neglected to warn consumers of the health hazards associated with their products.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma and seek a free legal consultation on your eligibility to receive compensation, please notify Weitz & Luxenberg through the communication form presented here. The firm has long been recognized by the nation’s legal community for obtaining record-setting verdicts and settlements in asbestos-injury cases.