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Mesothelioma Life Expectancy

By: Robert White

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Mesothelioma Life Expectancy

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer which is caused by asbestos exposure. Many who suffer from mesothelioma have held professions where they breathed in the asbestos. Mesothelioma life expectancy is based on various factors and each patient is different.

Age
Mesotehlioma life expectancy can be determined in large part to age. The average mesothelioma patient's age is 60, and 75 percent of patients who are diagnosed are men over the age of 55. Certain treatments may not be available to older patients due to existing health issues such as heart conditions, high blood pressure, and heart disease. These all decrease the life expectancy of the patient.

Type
There are three types of mesotelioma, which plays a part in mesothelioma life expectancy. Pleural mesothelioma attacks the lining of the lungs and is the most often diagnosed form of the disease. Because of the high number of cases, the more information is available to doctors and the more treatments options are available. This leads to an increased mesothelioma life expectancy rate. Peritoneal and pericardial mesotheliomas affect the linings of the abdomen and stomach and are more advanced.

Treatment
Mesothelioma life expectancy can be determined by treatment. Radiation and chemotherapy are the most common forms of treatment in mesothelioma patients. Those who undergo trial studies and have surgery to remove the cancer have a higher mesothelioma life expectancy than those who do not receive treatment. 

Latency
Mesothelioma can lie dormant in a patient for up to 50 years. The longer the disease goes undiagnosed the harder it is to treat, which leads to a decreased mesothelioma life expectancy rate. The early the disease is detected the higher the success of treatment, which leads to a longer life expectancy.

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