What is the prognosis for individuals diagnosed with Mesothelioma?
The time from exposure to the development of the disease and its symptoms is very long. Usually it is 30-40 years after exposure before the disease develops. For this reason connecting the symptoms to the cause of the disease can be difficult. Additionally, once these symptoms develop, many are nonspecific and very similar to other more common diagnoses making it difficult to correctly identify the patients diagnosis. This means that the correct treatment is often delayed. These factors contribute to the poor prognosis often associated with this disease.
The average survival once the diagnosis is made averages a year or less. At experienced centers involved in clinical trials this rate is higher and in certain cases approaches a 40% five year survival rate. Early diagnosis and treatment is essential to long term survival.