A mesothelioma diagnosis is overwhelming and will leave you with many questions. Above all else, you probably want to know how long you have to live.
Mesothelioma Prognosis
Shortly after a mesothelioma diagnosis, your doctor will provide a prognosis, or expected outlook for your cancer. The stage and type of cancer will play major roles in determining your chances for survival. Mesothelioma can shorten a person’s life expectancy significantly: just 40% of mesothelioma patients survive one year, and that number shrinks to below 10% after five years.
Prognosis by Type of Cancer
The type of mesothelioma cancer you have will affect your prognosis.
- Pleural Mesothelioma: Approximately 40% of patients with pleural mesothelioma survive one year after diagnosis.
- Peritoneal Mesothelioma: About 1 in 4 patients with peritoneal mesothelioma survive three years after diagnosis.
- Pericardial Mesothelioma: Prognosis for pericardial mesothelioma is especially poor, as approximately half of patients survive six months.
- Testicular Mesothelioma: Testicular mesothelioma generally has the best prognosis, as the average patient will survive two years.
Prognosis by Stage of Cancer
The size of the tumor and whether or not it has spread will impact your prognosis. Generally, the earlier you are diagnosed, the better your odds of surviving longer.
- Stage 1: Stage 1 mesothelioma hasn’t spread beyond the lining of the lungs, abdomen, or heart. Patients in stage 1 have the best prognosis because the disease is easier to contain. The two-year survival rate is approximately 41% to 46%.
- Stage 2: In stage 2, mesothelioma cancer cells haven’t spread far. Prognosis in stage 2 is still favorable, but treatments are available to extend life expectancy. The two-year survival rate is approximately 38%.
- Stage 3: By stage 3, the cancer has spread to nearby organs and tissues. Prognosis is less favorable, as the median life expectancy is approximately 16 months.
- Stage 4: Stage 4 mesothelioma has the poorest prognosis. Patients with stage 4 mesothelioma survive an average of about 12 months.
Contact a Mesothelioma Attorney
If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, contact the asbestos attorneys at Morgan & Morgan — you may be entitled to significant compensation. If we go forward with your case, we’ll assign you a full team of attorneys and legal staff who will handle every phase of your mesothelioma claim for you. With Morgan & Morgan, you’ll get the peace of mind you need to focus on what’s most important. Over 100,000 clients trust Morgan & Morgan — find out what we can do for you by scheduling a free case evaluation.