There are many factors affecting life expectancy of any cancer patient. These factors are considered by an oncologist in proposing the treatment and in determining the prognosis.

 

These factors include:
1. Latency of the disease
2. Type of mesothelioma
3. Patient's age at diagnosis
4. Smoking habits

Latency of Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a rare disease and it doesn't behave in the way other cancers do. The major cause of the disease is asbestos exposure but its first symptoms surface decades after the exposure occurred. This period of latency makes diagnosis difficult, especially in cases that asbestos exposure was already forgotten because it took place so long ago.

When the mesothelioma symptoms surface, the cancer is usually in its advanced stages – the tumor has already spread to other parts of the body. At this point, the patient is no longer eligible for curative surgery for removal of the entire cancer. The treatments are therefore recommended as palliative or comfort measures.

However, some exceptions were seen regarding the disease's latency period. Intense exposure may cause the disease to manifest more quickly. Some reports show that the longer and the more intense the asbestos exposure, the faster the disease develops.

Scientists have developed the blood test through the use of Mesomark ®, which was approved by FDA in 2007, in order to identify individuals who are prone to the disease hoping to treat mesothelioma in its early stages.

Types of Mesothelioma

There are four kinds of mesothelioma – pericardial, pleural, peritoneal and testicular. The most common type is malignant pleural mesothelioma, which accounts for 65 to 75% of all diagnosed cases in the US yearly. About 20 to 25% of the cases are peritoneal cancer; less than 10% for pericardial; while only about 100 cases have been reported to have testicular mesothelioma in the last 50 years.

Life expectancy is largely affected by the type of mesothelioma a patient develops. The most treatment options available are for pleural mesothelioma, being the most common form of the disease albeit the least aggressive. Treatments for pericardial and peritoneal mesothelioma are palliative in nature as the cancer spreads very quickly.

Age of Patient

Age plays a great part in life expectancy of mesothelioma patients. More than 75% of all diagnosed cases in the US every year are men of at least 55 years old. Young patients are generally stronger physically and have fewer health concerns. On the other hand, older patients may have a number of other ailments like diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and more; they make the body weak and more difficult to fight mesothelioma. These same other illnesses mat interfere with conventional cancer treatments like chemotherapy and radiation.

Smoking Habits

As a general advice, those who have any sort of lung disease should not smoke. Smoking is not the primary cause of mesothelioma but it certainly aggravates the disease, making the symptoms more severe and shortens the life expectancy of the patient.