Top Questions you must ask if you have Mesothelioma cancer
- What type of mesothelioma do I have?
- How advanced is my cancer?
- Which type of treatment I may undergo?
- What are the chances of my survival?
- Will I need additional tests before deciding on treatment?
- Will the treatment really help come out of the Mesothelioma cancer?
- Can I continue with my everyday routine after treatment?
Frequently Asked Questions
Q.1. Is mesothelioma cancer curable?
A. Unfortunately, for the malignant mesothelioma there is no cure available. However, doctors prescribe for palliative treatment that can ease patient’s pain and extend the life expectancy. Other types of Mesothelioma cancer are curable with therapy and surgery.
Q.2. How do mesothelioma patients die?
Patients with Mesothelioma lung cancer may die due to the result of respiratory failure or pneumonia. The life expectancy of the patient can be extended if the treatment happens in the initial stage of the diagnosis. The death of the mesothelioma will due after several years once the cancer cell spreads other parts of the body.
Q.3. What is life expectancy with mesothelioma?
A. The average life expectancy of the patient with mesothelioma cancer is 12-21 months. However, it also depends on the various factors including age, stage of the disease and the treatment response. Patient with 3rd and 4th stage have the average life expectancy of 16 months. Patient with surgical treatment will have 5 yrs of life expectancy.
Q.4. How fast does mesothelioma spread?
A. The spreading of mesothelioma cancer cells depends on the stages the person is going through. When this cancer cell spreads, it becomes metastatic. It spreads through the movement of microscopic cancer cells, starting from primary tumor to nearby areas.
Q.5 Can mesothelioma go into remission?
A. Mesothelioma if spreads to different parts of the body, partial remission is possible. The remission of mesothelioma is divided into two parts- Partial and Complete. Prolonged remission is possible with surgery. In many cases, therapy can also result into remission.
Q.6 Does mesothelioma spread to the brain?
There are hardly any cases of mesothelioma spreading to the brain. In very rare case, mesothelioma cancer cells are found in the cerebral cortex, the cerebellum and the brain stem. Mesotheliomas spreads to other tissues and organs within the chest and abdomen.
Q.7 Has anyone survived mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma affects the life expectancy of the individual. Since there is an advancement in treatment, the survival rate has increased. Patients who undergo the combination of therapy and surgery have higher survival rate.
Q.8 Is mesothelioma a death sentence?
A. Not all types of mesothelioma types, but Peritoneal can turn into a killer cancer. However, this does not mean mesothelioma is a death sentence. The survival rate is getting higher due to timely medical intervention.
Q.9 Is mesothelioma painful?
A. Pain the earlies sign of Mesothelioma. Patient who have coughing and digestion may face pain the as the fluid buildup and tumor grows, it presses against the vital organs. Patients may also face pain in chest or abdomen.
Q.10. What is the difference between lung cancer and mesothelioma?
Both mesothelioma and lung cancer are types of cancers affecting lungs and chest. Mesothelioma affects the cells of mesothelium, while lung cancer generally involves cancerous tumors within the lung. Symptoms are both are similar including chest pain and difficulty in breathing. Lung cancer tends to grow in individual masses having defined boundaries. Mesothelioma starts as tiny tumor nodules, eventually growing around organs.
Q. 11. How long does mesothelioma take to develop?
Mesothelioma is caused due to the exposure of asbestos particles. More the person exposed to asbestos, more is the chance of developing this cancer. The usual duration of mesothelioma cancer cell to develop is around 20 to 50 years. However, the symptoms will start showing as early as 10 to 15 yrs.