Can You Survive Mesothelioma?
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Can You Survive Mesothelioma?
Each year, about 3,000 people living in the United States are diagnosed with mesothelioma. Additionally, nearly 2,500 people die of mesothelioma in the country each year. Here's everything you need to know about the survival rates of this form of cancer.
Mesothelioma Survival Rates Explained
To understand mesothelioma survival rates, let's first define the term 'life expectancy.' This phrase refers to the number of years an individual is expected to live based on multiple factors such as age, gender, quality of life, demographics, etc.
Unfortunately, the life expectancy of individuals diagnosed with mesothelioma is quite low.
A study conducted in 2015 examined the life expectancy of mesothelioma patients between 1992 to 2012. The study specifically focused on the five-year survival rate for peritoneal mesothelioma and compared the results to those of patients diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma.
What Is Peritoneal Mesothelioma?
Peritoneal mesothelioma is a rare yet aggressive cancer that targets the peritoneum, a lining found in the abdomen. This cancer occurs when an individual ingests asbestos fibers. Its symptoms can take between 10 to 50 years to appear.
What Is Pleural Mesothelioma?
Pleural mesothelioma is cancer that targets the lungs and chest. It is usually caused by exposure to asbestos, especially among individuals working in automotive, construction, insulation, mining, plumbing, and other related industries.
Back to the study, the five-year survival rate for individuals diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma was 12 percent. The study also discovered a 52 percent survival rate for individuals diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma over the same five-year period.
The research further concluded that at least 73 percent of individuals diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma survived the first year after diagnosis. On the other hand, 92 percent of individuals diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma lived past the first year after diagnosis.
When comparing the survival rate over a 10-year period, the study concluded that only 4.7 percent of individuals diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma survived. In addition, only 39% of individuals diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma lived for more than ten years after diagnosis.
Factors That Determine Mesothelioma Survival Rates
Different factors determine the survival rate for individuals diagnosed with mesothelioma. Here is a quick look at the most common ones.
The Location of the Tumor
Mesothelioma falls into four different categories, depending on the target location in the human body. They include:
Pleural Mesothelioma: This is the most common type of mesothelioma. As mentioned before, it targets the tissues surrounding the lungs and chest. About 70 to 75 percent of diagnoses involve this type of mesothelioma.
Peritoneal Mesothelioma: This mesothelioma is not as fatal. But unfortunately, it only accounts for about 10 to 20 percent of all mesothelioma diagnoses.
Pericardial Mesothelioma: This mesothelioma targets the pericardium, a lining found in the heart. It is a very rare type of cancer and accounts for about one percent of all cases.
Testicular Mesothelioma: Targeting the external lining of the testicles, also known as the tunica vaginalis, this is the rarest type of mesothelioma. It makes up less than one percent of all cases in the United States.
Stage of Mesothelioma
The stage of mesothelioma diagnosis also determines how long the patient will live with the cancer. In most cases, individuals with stage one and two mesothelioma live longer. This is because it is possible to manage the cancer at these two stages through surgery and other treatments.
On the other hand, individuals diagnosed with stage three and four mesothelioma usually have the lowest survival rate. Unfortunately, this diagnosis is usually common among individuals with pleural mesothelioma, which is often the deadliest.
Most individuals with pleural mesothelioma have a lower life expectancy because the cancer is usually detected long after it has grown and attacked other parts of the body. This makes it even more challenging to manage.
Cell Type
Mesothelioma has three cell types, namely:
Epithelioid
This is the most common mesothelioma cell type. It is also the least aggressive and has the best response to treatment. Most individuals with this cell type live between 12 to 24 months after diagnosis.
Sarcomatoid
This is the most aggressive type of mesothelioma cell. On average, individuals with sarcomatoid cell types live between six to eight months.
Biphasic
This cell type combines epithelioid and sarcomatoid features. Individuals with these biphasic cells usually have a 13-month survival rate.
Race
According to the study, at least 95% of mesothelioma patients are white. In addition, the survival rate for white individuals within a five-year period stands at 7.8 percent compared to 12 percent for non-white patients.
Age
The 2015 study also examined the survival rate based on age. It concluded that:
- about 52 percent of individuals aged 50 and below survived the first year after diagnosis;
- around 51.1 percent of individuals aged between 50 to 64 survived the first year after diagnosis;
- for individuals aged between 64 and 74, only 40.9 percent survived past the first year, and, lastly;
- only 28.5 percent of individuals aged 75 and above survived past the first year of diagnosis.
Gender
The research further discovered that men were at a higher risk of contracting mesothelioma than females. This is mainly because men have a higher chance of working in high-risk areas, such as industrial jobs, than women.
The survival rate for men was significantly lower than that of women. Over a five-year period after diagnosis, the study revealed that only 5.9 percent of men survived mesothelioma. On the other hand, only 16 percent of women survived the first five years.
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What to Do After Mesothelioma Diagnosis
Almost every individual diagnosed with mesothelioma fears the worst. This is because this kind of cancer has low survival rates. Scientists are still trying to establish ways to contain cancer, but as it stands, it is known to be one of the deadliest cancers.
So if you or your loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, it is understandable that you may have countless questions:
- How long will I live?
- What should I do next?
- Where can I find treatment?
- How will I afford treatment?
- How will this affect my family?
When you find yourself in such a situation, consider these tips.
Begin to Learn More About Mesothelioma
Talk to your doctor about the specific type of mesothelioma you have been diagnosed with. Don't be afraid to discuss your fears and concerns with them. The survival rate varies depending on various factors, as discussed earlier, and it's best to talk to your doctor or a mesothelioma specialist to find out more about your specific situation.
Seek Support
A mesothelioma diagnosis can send you into deep shock, stress, and depression. To avoid losing the mental battle to cancer, consider joining a support group. Feel free to speak to a counselor or therapist, including your friends and family. You can also speak to an oncology social worker - they will provide you with important information you need to seek the much-needed support.
Seek Treatment
Your doctor will most likely recommend treatment right after diagnosis. Be sure to follow the doctor's instructions before and during treatment. You may undergo radiation, surgery, or chemotherapy, depending on your doctor's opinion.
Contact a Mesothelioma Attorney
The saddest truth about mesothelioma is that it is caused by asbestos exposure. Even more painful is the fact that someone is responsible for the exposure. Whether it's a product manufacturer or a property owner, you must hold these individuals or entities responsible for their negligence.
Failure to hold them responsible means you will have to carry the burden alone. From expensive medical bills to lost wages, the effects of mesothelioma go beyond your health or that of your loved one.
Here's how an asbestos attorney can help.
Providing Professional Legal Advice
Mesothelioma laws are complex. However, that's not something you should worry about, especially when you work with an experienced mesothelioma attorney from an established personal injury law firm like Morgan & Morgan.An experienced asbestos attorney will examine your situation and explain your legal options for pursuing compensation. This is usually the first step after a consultation with the attorney.
Fighting for Your Rights
A mesothelioma attorney can help fight for your rights as you undergo treatment. Your health is the most important thing, and that is what you should focus on after diagnosis, not stressful legal battles. Otherwise, you will have a tough time trying to juggle between the back and forth battle for compensation and your treatment.Most individuals with mesothelioma spend hours undergoing treatment, which is physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausting. Similarly, insurance companies employ different tactics to avoid being held financially responsible for their client's actions that led to asbestos exposure.
For this reason, working with an experienced mesothelioma attorney from Morgan & Morgan gives you much-needed peace of mind knowing that someone is fighting for your rights. We will take on even the biggest bullies in the country to ensure you receive the compensation you need and deserve.
Establishing the Appropriate Claims Process
Mesothelioma claims usually fall under two main categories, each requiring a different procedure. They include:Personal injury claims: This claim is filed by an individual who has been diagnosed with mesothelioma and seeks compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain, and suffering, among other damages.
Wrongful death claims: This claim is filed by family members of individuals who have died of mesothelioma. It may include damages such as loss of expected income, funeral costs, medical bills, etc.
A mesothelioma attorney knows how to navigate the complex legal processes when filing such a claim, increasing your chances of obtaining a favorable outcome. Remember, certain rules and regulations govern the procedure of filing a personal injury claim. For example, the statute of limitations for mesothelioma claims varies from state to state. This explains why it is always advisable to contact a mesothelioma lawyer right away if you have been diagnosed with this condition or lost a loved one to the same.
In addition, this attorney can help establish the right channel for compensation. Depending on your case, you may be able to file a workers' compensation claim or even a veterans' claim. Some asbestos victims may also seek compensation via asbestos trust funds, private health insurance, medicare, medicare, or anything in between. Regardless of the avenue of compensation, you can trust such an attorney to fight for your best interests.
Saving You Money
Mesothelioma attorneys understand how expensive and stressful it is to deal with the expenses that arise from being diagnosed with this type of cancer. For example, you will need to change your entire lifestyle and adopt a new one that aligns with your doctor's instructions. For this reason, Morgan & Morgan's mesothelioma attorneys provide their services on a contingency basis, meaning you do not pay anything unless they win the case.Negotiating Settlement
Unlike insurance companies, a mesothelioma attorney has your best interests at heart. This attorney can help calculate the amount of money you're entitled to as compensation. In doing so, asbestos attorneys consider multiple factors, such as your medical expenses, loss of earning potential, pain and suffering, among others.Providing Legal Resources
It is difficult, sometimes almost impossible, to prove asbestos exposure without an attorney. This is because you need a lot of resources to conduct investigations, gather evidence, interview witnesses, etc.But this also doesn't mean you should work with any mesothelioma attorney out there — you need an attorney with more than enough legal resources to fight for your rights. Moreover, since asbestos compensation involves huge sums of money, you shouldn't expect insurance companies to settle the claim without a fight.
That's why you need an attorney that can prove beyond reasonable doubt that the defendant was responsible for your asbestos exposure. This is one of the many benefits of working with a powerful injury law firm like Morgan & Morgan, the largest in the United States.
At Morgan & Morgan, our mesothelioma attorney can:
- identify the product or property that caused exposure to asbestos;
- collect records to prove that you worked or lived at the place of asbestos exposure;
- provide eyewitness statements to confirm your asbestos exposure;
- represent you in and out of court, and;
- negotiate a settlement on your behalf.
Contact a Morgan & Morgan Mesothelioma Attorney
When you or your loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, there is no doubt that your lives will take a dramatic turn. You will have to deal with expensive medical bills, lifestyle changes, stress, pain, suffering, financial loss, among others. That is why you need to contact a Morgan & Morgan mesothelioma attorney to help fight for the compensation you need and deserve.
Do not suffer in silence when you can be compensated for your pain. Call us today at 877-515-6977 or contact us online for a free case evaluation.
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