Mesothelioma is a very deadly form of cancer. This type of cancer is almost always found in patients who were exposed to asbestos dust at one time or another in their lives. There are 3000 cases of this cancer reported each year and there were over 18,000 Mesothelioma deaths in the United States alone between 1999 and 2005. There are many things that can influence the survival rate of those suffering from Mesotherlioma. The main thing that influences survival however, is catching the disease in it’s earliest stages.
Early Detection of Mesothelioma, More Difficult Than You Would Think
Early detection of Mesothelioma is the best option for surviving this cancer. When caught in it’s earliest stage there are far more aggressive treatment options available for the patient. However, early detection of this cancer is extremely difficult for the following reasons.
First, Mesothelioma shows up in patients 20 to 40 years after exposure. Many of those who were exposed to asbestos dust may not have even realized they were exposed to begin with, as asbestos was used in so many places and for so many purposes and some of these cancer patients were children when the exposure occurred.
Second, this cancer’s initial symptoms may seem like a bout of bronchitis or influenza so patients more often than not, do not seek medical care at the onset of their symptoms, thinking they have a far less serious illness that they can treat themselves. By the time they realize that their symptoms may signal a more serious illness the cancer may be too far advanced for aggressive treatment.
Third, Once the patient does seek treatment medical professionals often misdiagnosis this cancer. Unless the doctor has been alerted to the fact that the patient has been exposed to asbestos they more often than not look to other sources for the cause of the patience symptoms.
More often than not a combination of these factors combine to make it almost impossible to diagnosis this disease in the early stages where it can be treated successfully and give patients a better prognosis for survival.
There are many other things that influence the patients survival as well. Some of these other influences include the age of the patient and how well their immune systems functions, as well as whether or not they are a smoker.
Age of the Patient
Since onset of this cancer often occurs decades after the exposure to asbestos most patients suffering from Mesothelioma are already at least in their 50s. Many of these patients are 65 and older when they are first diagnosed. The older a patient is the more likely his health has deteriorated from other illnesses and diseases and simple age. Many times the patient is simply to weak to be able to withstand the more aggressive treatments such as surgery and chemotherapy.
If the patient is suffering from other medical conditions such as diabetes or a heart condition they may not be able to withstand any aggressive treatment whatsoever. The only hope of survival for this type of cancer is in being able to use the most aggressive treatments possible at the earliest stage of this disease. The age and health of too many of these patients simply makes this kind of treatment too risky.
Smoking
Patients who are smokers are more likely to succumb to Mesotherlioma faster than those who don’t. If you have this type of cancer you need to quit smoking immediately which could result in prolonging your life and your health for as long as possible.
The Immune System
Patients who have survived past all expectations and even seem to have been cured of this cancer are believed to have had an extremely healthy Immune system or have sought alternative treatments that have strengthened their immune system.
Scientists are now studying ways that they can strengthen the immune system as a possible treatment for Mesotherlioma and possibly a cure. There is also ongoing research in how to detect this cancer earlier in order to treat it in it’s beginning stages. While the prognosis for this disease remains poor, there is hope, as more and more treatment options and quicker detection may prolong the life of the patient and eventually, may offer a cure.