What is mesothelioma? Causes, treatment and life expectancy

Shubhanshu Sharma
Published on: 16 May 2018 11:30 AM GMT
What is mesothelioma? Causes, treatment and life expectancy
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Lucknow: One of the most aggressive forms of cancer is Mesothelioma which is known for having an extremely bleak prognosis. The diagnosis of the disease is so jarring that it may leave the patients to make the difficult decision between pursuing or not pursuing the treatment.

As it takes around 20-50 years in developing, people should get the medical insurance for having a healthy mesothelioma compensation to get proper treatment of the disease.

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Causes of Mesothelioma

This type of cancer is usually caused due to exposure to asbestos, although there are a few more factors that can increase chances of developing the ailment. Asbestos exposure commonly occurs in the workplace but has also taken place in living quarters, schools, and other environments.

Symptoms typically take 20-50 years to appear and can mimic other diseases, often prolonging diagnosis. As a result, many people who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma are choosing to file lawsuits against former employers as they discover that they have been exposed to asbestos while on the job.

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Factors that Influence the Treatment

Similar to any type of cancer, there are a plethora of factors which influence the p0rognosis. The age of the patient is one piece to consider and can affect how well he or she might respond to chemotherapy treatments. The other consideration is overall health. Is the patient has good health or he/she been dealing with other health issues? Other risk factors, such as smoking cigarettes, can also decrease average life expectancy. A patient’s prognosis also depends on the nature of his or her mesothelioma diagnosis, including location and cell type, as well as stage classification.

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The types of mesothelioma

The symptoms and manifestation of cancer vary on the basis of the type of mesothelioma. The types are pleural mesothelioma, peritoneal mesothelioma and pericardial mesothelioma. Among these three types, pericardial mesothelioma has the worst prognosis, which would require the good amount of mesitheliona compensation.

The prognosis for peritoneal mesothelioma, however, has been improving in recent years due to newer treatments like hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy.

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Stages of Mesothelioma and Treatment Options

Staging is another important component to determining estimated life expectancy. Mesothelioma is classified into four major stages. Early detection is ideal for a longer life expectancy, but many patients are faced with late detection and therefore a narrower range of cancer treatment options that are too expensive and thus require mesitheliona compensation.

Early stages allow for more aggressive treatments, while stages 3 and 4 limit what the body can handle. Stage 1 typically involves surgery with the option for chemotherapy, and radiation, while stage 2 also presents options for surgery, chemo, and radiotherapy. Some mesothelioma doctors might also recommend multimodality treatments, which have been proven to help extend life expectancies for some patients, incorporating surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and some forms of surgery.

Also Read: Stillbirths & Newborn Deaths Are Down In The US, But There’s Still More We Can Do For Moms

Stages 3 and 4 become more complicated as the disease has spread to vital organs or the lymphatic system. Patients facing stage 3 mesothelioma often focus on palliative treatments to maintain a high quality of life. Stage 4 mesothelioma has the most problematic prognosis with a primary treatment focus on pain management. Hospice is a popular option for patients in the late stages to rely on for comfort and care in their home with the option for specialized clinical trials.

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The average lifespan of mesothelioma cases

Not many cases of mesothelioma are caught at stage 1. Based on previous survival statistics, those with early detection face an average lifespan of around 21 months or longer. Gender, age, health, and other risk factors can lessen or extend this estimate. Left untreated, some patients have lived past a year, others less than 6 months.

For stage 2 patients, survival rate is typically 19 months. Stage 3 patients face an average lifespan of 16 months, and stage 4 typically see 12 months. A mere 9% of diagnosed individuals survive for more than 5 years.

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Ultimately, prognosis is going to vary from patient to patient as physicians take all important factors into account. While treatment can extend life expectancies, it’s ultimately up to the patient to determine what path he or she would like to take. But at the end, if you have the support of medical insurance, you can have a good mesothelioma compensation.

Source: Blog (mesothelioma.com)

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Shubhanshu Sharma

Shubhanshu Sharma

Writer has 6 years of experience in digital media. Presently working as Senior Sub Editor at newstrack.com. An avid reader and always willing to learn new things and techniques.

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