PLEURAL MESOTHELIOMA PROGNOSIS

Mesothelioma prognosis depends greatly on each individual patient’s health and medical condition

October 6, 2010 – Most patients’ pleural mesothelioma prognosis is not great. The American Cancer Society estimates the average survival time after diagnosis is four to 18 months.

There have been rare cases, however, where patients have exceeded the typical prognosis for mesothelioma survival and lived for 10 years or more.

These rare events are not especially encouraging to patients and their families impacted by pleural mesothelioma – a malignant cancer, caused almost exclusively by occupational asbestos exposure that impacts the tissue lining of the lungs and chest cavity.

Pleural mesothelioma cancer is the most common type of mesothelioma, representing 75 percent of approximately 3,000 cases of mesothelioma diagnosed in the United States each year.

Individual patient differences affect prognosis

Patients’ pleural mesothelioma prognosis depends on many factors, especially as they pertain to each individual. These case-by-case factors include the stage the cancer is discovered in, the age of the patient, the size of the tumor and its location, the patient’s overall health and their personal approach to treatment options.

Patients diagnosed in the early stages of mesothelioma normally have a better mesothelioma prognosis. Early diagnosis offers more treatment options, and ultimately a better prognosis in the long run.

Some patients elect to combine traditional treatments (surgery, radiation and chemotherapy) with alternative lung cancer therapies (nutritional supplements, yoga, acupuncture and chiropractic care) to promote good health, boost the immune system and relieve pain.

This is usually planned in consultation with your doctor, who can also recommend mesothelioma clinical trials currently available to you. Clinical trials offer access to the very latest medicines and treatments available and have shown to improve a patient’s mesothelioma prognosis.

Why me?

Pleural mesothelioma is a preventable disease caused by the negligence and greed of certain employers and asbestos product manufacturers. Courts today recognize the culpability of these parties and have awarded multimillion-dollar verdicts and settlements to workers and their families impacted by asbestos-related diseases.

Contacting a mesothelioma attorney may help you obtain significant financial compensation to help pay medical bills, cover lost wages and protect your family’s future financial stability.

Legal options

If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or asbestosis and seek free guidance on your eligibility to receive compensation, please contact Weitz & Luxenberg today through the communication form presented here.