Mesothelioma Survival Rates

Discouraging statistics, but some cause for hope

There is no known cure for mesothelioma.  There are about 3,000 deaths resulting from mesothelioma in the United States each year. After the disease is diagnosed, the average length of survival for patients with mesothelioma is between 4 and 18 months.  Of all those diagnosed with mesothelioma, about:

• 40% percent are still alive one year after diagnosis
• 20% survive for 2 years or more
• 10% survive for 3 years or more
• 8% are still alive for 5 years or more

Survival rates vary

The length of survival depends upon a number of factors:

• The location and extent of the tumor
• The stage of the mesothelioma at diagnosis
• The type of mesothelioma (pleural, peritoneal, or pericardial)
• How far the mesothelioma has spread
• The type of mesothelioma cells observed (epithelial, sarcomatoid, or biphasic)
• How long the patient has the disease
• The patient’s overall health, including lung and heart health
• The ability to withstand traditional and experimental treatments
• The response to drugs or treatments
• The patient’s age
• If the tumor can be removed completely by surgery
• The amount of fluid in the chest or abdomen
• If the mesothelioma has just been diagnosed or has come back

The patient’s race and sex may also have an effect.  Women and African Americans survive longer on average than do white males.

Early detection may be the key to improving mesothelioma survival rates

Perhaps the most important factor in low mesothelioma survival rates is time. Most mesothelioma cases are very advanced when symptoms are first detected.  While mesothelioma does not particularly spread rapidly, its symptoms are subtle and elusive—and, often nonexistent in the early stages.  Researchers are developing new ways to detect mesothelioma earlier, with the hope of improving the overall survival rate for mesothelioma patients.