Mesothelioma Life Span
Mesothelioma Life Span The life span of those diagnosed with mesothelioma is typically poor due to the severe latency period associated with the disease. In most cases, patients do not experience symptoms until at least 20 years have passed since the initial exposure to asbestos occurred, resulting in a late diagnosis. Another reason for the poor life span is the fact that there is no definitive cure. However, many patients elect to undergo treatment to combat the cancer, improve their quality of life and relieve symptoms. Improving Life Span The average life span for a newly-diagnosed mesothelioma patient ranges from four to 18 months. While treatments are commonly used to help with symptoms and provide comfort, they can also be utilized to prolong the length of a patient’s life. One such treatment is radiation therapy , which is used to slow the spread of the cancerous tumor. This particular type of treatment can also be used during...