How Long Can You Live with Mesothelioma?

There’s no way to sugarcoat it – when someone is diagnosed with mesothelioma, that person is likely to die relatively quickly. However, there are exceptions to this rule, and many factors that go into determining how long someone can live with the disease.

Determining Factors

A person’s age, gender, the stage of the cancer, general health and level of asbestos exposure are just some of the factors that will determine how long a person can live with mesothelioma. One of the main factors, of course, is whether or not the disease has spread, and to what extent.

While the average survival time is one year, many people who are age 45-54 at the time of their diagnosis can live five years or more. There are even some cases of people who have 20 years or longer with the disease.

Improving the Odds

Treatments for mesothelioma are always advancing, with promising news regarding those advances coming out on a regular basis. There are, however, other ways a patient can improve his or her odds of survival.

Early detection is key in improving the prognosis of someone with mesothelioma, as is the case with many other forms of cancer. The earlier that the disease is diagnosed, the better the chances it can be successfully treated before it spreads to the lymph nodes and then to other areas of the body.

Many patients find success by enrolling in clinical trials that test innovative therapies and treatments. Changing a person’s diet can also improve the odds, as can quitting smoking as soon as possible.

You need to know your legal rights if you or a loved one has been diagnosed with this terrible disease. Please contact Baron & Budd by completing our online form or calling 855-280-7664 for a confidential consultation to learn about your potential legal options.