Mesothelioma, a form of cancer, develops in the layer of tissue that covers most of our internal organs. The disease is associated with factors like genetic and immunological abnormalities and environmental exposures. However, exposure to asbestos fibers is the most common cause of this cancer—contributing to at least 70% of all positive cases.
Individuals exposed to asbestos at work, at home, or anywhere else have a high risk of developing mesothelioma. Although it’s a rare disease, it can quickly become aggressive and is often fatal. Once the fibers embed into your body, it takes several years until they start manifesting symptoms and causing weakness in affected individuals.
Therefore, this cancer remains undiagnosed until it has reached its last stages and spread throughout the body. And even though available treatment options can help patients manage their symptoms and improve their prognosis, a cure isn’t possible.
There are four main kinds of mesothelioma, depending on where the disease has developed in your body.
Pleural Mesothelioma
This cancer develops in the pleura or lining of the lungs and is the most common form of mesothelioma. It accounts for almost 75% of all mesothelioma cases and is hence the most widely studied type. It usually occurs when you inhale asbestos fibers which enter your respiratory tract and get stuck in the lungs. After getting stuck, these fibers can cause inflammation and scarring, eventually leading to the development of malignant mesothelioma. Common symptoms include chest pain when coughing, shortness of breath, and unexplainable weight loss.
If you get diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma early, aggressive surgery is your best treatment option. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy can also improve your prognosis and increase your life expectancy by a few years. However, if you get diagnosed when cancer has already spread, you may only get a few more months.
Peritoneal Mesothelioma
This type is the second most common form of mesothelioma and makes up 10-20% of all cases. It develops in the abdomen or the abdominal cavity and can cause swelling or pain in your stomach, lump formation, or weight loss. Since asbestos fibers are so small, you can’t see them with the naked eye and may accidentally swallow them when you come in contact. Doing so can cause damage to your abdominal cavity and all the organs in it, making it more prone to developing mesothelioma.
Peritoneal mesothelioma has a better prognosis than pleural mesothelioma, especially if diagnosed early. Most patients are eligible for treatment options like chemo, radiation, and surgery. An advanced form of heated chemotherapy, known as HIPEC, can improve your prognosis by five years or more.
Pericardial Mesothelioma
Pericardial mesothelioma is the least common form of mesothelioma cancer, accounting for less than 1% of all cases to date. It affects the tissue linings surrounding that make up the protective sac of the heart, called pericardium. Its exact cause is unknown, and most scientists aren’t sure how asbestos fibers can reach the pericardium and if that is even the source of the disease. An individual suffering from pericardial mesothelioma may experience irregular heartbeat, difficulty breathing, and chest pains while coughing.
Treatment options for this cancer are similar to those of other mesothelioma types. However, if your cancer gets detected before it becomes too advanced, your doctor may recommend you for pericardiectomy. Life expectancy for most cases ranges from six weeks to fifteen months only. This poor prognosis may be why there are few recorded cases.
Testicular Mesothelioma
Testicular mesothelioma develops in the tissue lining of the testes. It is the rarest form of mesothelioma, with the number of reported cases barely coming to 100. Since it’s so uncommon, there is no defined set of symptoms, but they may include swelling in the scrotum or the formation of painless testicular lumps. Men between the ages of 55 and 75 are most likely to get diagnosed with testicular mesothelioma. And although the exact pathology is not yet understood, doctors attribute asbestos exposure as a probable cause.
Due to the low number of cases, there’s limited research available for a standard regimen to treat this mesothelioma. However, your doctor may recommend surgery or chemotherapy to slow down the progress of your cancer. These treatment options may allow you to live more than two years after an initial diagnosis.
Factors Affecting Mesothelioma Prognosis
Certain factors like those listed below may contribute to a better or poorer mesothelioma prognosis.
- Cell type
If your tumor develops in the epithelium, you have better chances of living a longer life. However, when sarcomatoid cells get affected, they are harder to treat and therefore have a poorer prognosis.
- Age
The younger you are, the better your mesothelioma prognosis is likely to be because your body is better able to combat cancer cells and recuperate.
- Gender
Studies have shown that women diagnosed with mesothelioma live longer than men. The exact reason is not understood, but it may be due to hormones and other biological factors.
- Race
In some mesothelioma types, race can also impact the disease prognosis. Research published in the SEER database found blacks with mesothelioma tend to live longer than whites even though they’re less likely to have access to proper treatment.
Conclusion
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention calculates the median survival rate of mesothelioma patients to be one year from its initial diagnosis. But it’s important to note that each case is different, and several factors—biological and environmental can impact prognosis. Therefore, consult with your physician to plan the best course of action to treat your cancer.