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Overview
With any form of cancer, including mesothelioma, there is always the question of the survival rate. It is an extremely valid inquiry that would be on almost anyone's mind. Yet, the answer can be hard to establish, not because of the actual statistics, but because of how people interpret the numbers. While the survival rate may seem rather low, it cannot truly calculate the prognosis of each person with mesothelioma. It is only an average.
Statistics
The overall survival rate of individuals with mesothelioma will vary based on a number of factors, but it will generally be around 39 percent one year after the initial diagnosis. From there, you will commonly see a decline in the survival rate each year, with approximately 20 percent of people surviving the disease after two years, 11 percent after three years, 10 percent after four years and nine percent after five years.
Reason
One of the main reasons the survival is so low is the overall nature of mesothelioma, a cancer commonly affecting the membrane surrounding the lungs, heart or stomach. Most often a person who has developed this rare, yet aggressive form of cancer, will show no signs or symptoms until the later stages of the disease. This means that people aren't as often diagnosed with localized mesothelioma, which is stage I, but more so with advanced mesothelioma, which is in stages II, III and IV. Yet, as technology advances, so do the tools used for identification.
Cause
A factor that can greatly improve your prognosis is understanding the origin of the disease. The majority of people (between 70 and 80 percent) will develop mesothelioma from prolonged exposure to asbestos, or products containing the carcinogenic fibers. If you are aware of an exposure, such as occurs among people working in construction, plumbing, heating and cooling, you can alert your doctor about the potential of this disease. That being said, not every person who comes into contact will develop mesothelioma; it just means those peoplee are at greater risk.
Prognosis
As mentioned earlier, there are a number of factors that affect the survival rate of individuals with mesothelioma. Besides the stage of the disease, your prognosis will vary based on you health and age, the location of the affected area, the size of the affected area, the success of the removal of the tumor and the type of cancer cells you have in the affected area. Not only do these factors greatly affect your specific prognosis, they'll also play a role in your course of treatment.
Considerations
When you look at the statistics on the survival rate of mesothelioma, you need to consider how the numbers are calculated. They are based on every person diagnosed with mesothelioma over a five-year span, which is approximately 50,000 cases worldwide during this time. Though these numbers can be disheartening, they cannot actually predict the survival rate of each individual. Each person is different, and they will react to treatment in a variety of ways. If you or a loved one has developed mesothelioma, keep a positive attitude.
