AboutMesothelioma.Net

Early Detection is the Key to Increased Life Expectancy for Mesothelioma

Monday, August 10, 2009

By Nancy Meredith
Mesothelioma, caused by exposure to airborne asbestos fibers, is an incurable cancer involving the lining of the lung, abdomen, or the heart. The latency period, the time between asbestos exposure and diagnosis of mesothelioma, can be decades long. For many patients diagnosed up to 50 years after their initial exposure to asbestos the disease is already in an advanced phase when they begin to suffer symptoms of shortness of breath and chest pain. At this late stage of diagnosis, the average survival time is less than a year.

Doctors, patients, and cancer advocates alike are now emphasizing the importance of early detection of mesothelioma to increase the effectiveness of treatment options leading to an increased survival time. In fact, the American Cancer Society states “if you can’t prevent cancer, the next best thing you can do to protect your health is to detect it early.”

Some studies have shown that among patients where mesothelioma is diagnosed early and treated aggressively, about half can expect a life expectancy of two years, and one-fifth will have a life expectancy of five years. As a comparison, for patients whose mesothelioma is advanced only five percent can expect to live another five years.

Early diagnosis of mesothelioma cancer often means that the cancer will be localized, with the cancer cells found only at the body site where the cancer originated. Using the Brigham staging system, the localized cancer would be identified as Stage 1 and can involve a surgically removable tumor. Once the cancer cells have spread beyond that original location, the mesothelioma is considered advanced and surgery is often no longer an option.

The importance of early diagnosis for mesothelioma cannot be overemphasized. Treating a limited area of cancer is easier, and includes more treatment options, than trying to treat cancer that has spread, or metastasized, to several sites or throughout the body. Mesothelioma is typically diagnosed within three to six months of the first visit to a doctor with complaints about breathing problems or chest and abdominal pain.

Early diagnosis can improve life expectancy; however, the following factors for a mesothelioma diagnosis are all important when assessing life expectancy.
• Latency period
• Age at diagnosis
• Type of mesothelioma
• Smoking or non-smoking patient
• Overall health of patient

There is a greater awareness of mesothelioma in the medical community, although the majority of physicians do not have experience diagnosing or treating mesothelioma. If you have a history of asbestos exposure, even if you are not currently exhibiting any respiratory symptoms, you should consider consulting a knowledgeable physician for a complete physical and mesothelioma screening tests. Early diagnosis of mesothelioma is necessary for the best prognosis.

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posted by Nancy Meredith at 7:07 AM
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