About Mesothelioma Survival Rates
Mesothelioma is an aggressive, oftentimes deadly form of cancer that usually results from an exposure to asbestos. Factory workers and anyone who have been exposed to these small fibers and dust particles can be at risk for developing mesothelioma, as can their family members and anyone else who has come into contact with the materials. Sadly, mesothelioma has a dreary outlook, with not many victims surviving more than five years after their diagnosis, which is why it is critical to catch the disease at an early stage.
Time Frame
Mesothelioma is a very deadly form of cancer for the mere fact that it can be difficult to detect; by the time it is detected it is almost always too late to do anything about it. According to MEDTV, only 9 percent of mesothelioma victims will survive more than five years with the disease. Only 39 percent of victims survived more than one year with the disease.
Considerations
Like all cancers, mesothelioma is diagnosed at various stages, which can affect a person's survival rate. The stages of mesothelioma span from Stage One, which means that it is somewhat localized to the chest lining or wall, to Stage Four, where it may have spread to other tissues and vital organs. Other factors affecting survival rate include the tumor's size, how much fluid has built up in the chest, and whether the diagnosis is new or recurring.
Features
The main symptoms of mesothelioma are chest pain and shortness of breath, especially because the malignant cancer cells invade the chest cavity. Unfortunately, mesothelioma is an extremely hard disease to diagnose and treat because the symptoms may not appear until decades after someone was exposed to the disease. As the cancer spreads and the disease progresses, one's survival rate naturally drops and the victim may experience increased uncomfortableness that can result in dry mouth, trouble breathing, trouble swallowing and decreased appetite, among other things.
Identification
A mesothelioma diagnosis usually starts with a medical history to document how much exposure an individual has had to asbestos, which is the main cause of mesothelioma. A physical examination will then take place to document any signs or symptoms of the cancer, which will usually involve a chest X-ray, biopsy, MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) and/or CT scan (CAT scan). Once a diagnosis has been made doctors can determine what stage the mesothelioma is in, how far it's spread and what a likely survival rate would be based on similar cases.
Prevention/Solution
There is no cure for mesothelioma, however, like many other cancers there are preventative measures that can be undertaken to prevent the disease from spreading, shrink the tumor and make the person more comfortable. Chemotherapy, radiation and surgery are likely options for people deemed well enough to undergo these procedures. Undergoing such procedures can greatly increase your chances of survival, though oftentimes these procedures must be undertaken very soon after the disease develops. According to a study conducted by SurvivingMesothelioma.com, victims who were given radiation, chemotherapy, surgery or a combination of the three had a survival rate of 18.1 months after the procedure(s) was undertaken.
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