Diagnosis of pleural mesothelioma is very difficult. It is mostly diagnosed when the cancer is in the last stages. The tumor becomes very aggressive and resistant to treatment at the advanced stages. If the tumor is detected at an early stage there is a better chance of beating the disease and raises the chance of positive treatment. Therefore, the stage of the tumor at which it is diagnosed has a great impact on the life expectancy of the patient. Patients who are diagnosed at the advanced stages may not be able to survive for a long time.
Factors Influencing the Prognosis
Factors that greatly influences the prognosis of pleural mesothelioma are; the general health and the age of the patient. Patient is more likely to be in a good shape when he/she is diagnosed at an early stage, as the tumor has not had time to grow. Such patients can endure the harsh treatment easily as compared to those who are diagnosed at the later stages. Statistics show that 75% of all the mesothelioma patients are 55 or above. Studies also show that men have a greater chance of developing mesothelioma than women.
After the disease has been diagnosed the doctors will order further tests to know how far the tumor has spread. They would also want to confirm the location of the tumor. There are a number of treatments available for the cancer that has not spread to other organs of the body. Prognosis of the patients at this level is much higher than the patient who is experiencing breathlessness, chest pain, weakness, low energy, weight loss, and low level of red blood cells, high level of white blood cells and high level of LHD (lactate dehydrogenase), an enzyme. These are the symptoms of a cancer that is at its later stages. These patients may receive a poorer prognosis of about a year however; there have been cases when life expectancy and quality of life was improved in many ways. Patients who do not show these symptoms have a better prognosis and a higher chance of fighting the cancer.
Surgical Options for Improvement of Prognosis
Extrapleural pneumonectomy is a surgical procedure that is offered to patients with good health. This surgery has been able to successfully remove the tumor for patients who are in stage I. it is the process of removing the entire affected lung and lining of the chest wall. The diaphragm and the pericardium are also removed during surgery and then reconstructed by the surgeons. This surgery has shown very positive results for patients with epithelioid cell pleural mesothelioma.
A procedure called pleurectomy/decortication can help improve the life expectancy of the patients who are diagnosed at the later stages. This treatment may not be able to cure the disease but it has been able to control the buildup of fluid in the pleura and reduce the pain and discomposed of the patients.
Rate of Survival
The five year survival rate was estimated at 10% in 2006, this rate is improving with time. Patients who are recently diagnosed have a much higher rate of survival as there have been improvements in the treatments and procedures available.