Mesothelioma Life Expectancy

What Is the Life Expectancy With Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma life expectancy ranges from 1 to 2 years with treatment. This refers to the expected survival time following diagnosis. Pleural mesothelioma patients undergoing aggressive therapy show a 5-year survival rate of 9.6%. Without treatment, survival beyond six months is rare.

“When we talk about the life expectancy for a mesothelioma patient or any cancer patient, we tend to talk about numbers,” Dr. Andrea Wolf of Mount Sinai Hospital told The Mesothelioma Center at Asbestos.com. “But people are people and an individual human being, not numbers and not data.”

Survival statistics are general estimates, registered nurse and Patient Advocate Karen Selby told The Mesothelioma Center. 

“When patients or their loved ones ask, I share that everyone is different and nobody can tell a new patient their life expectancy after just being diagnosed,” she said. “I explain that mesothelioma is no longer a death sentence.”

There are many ways you can improve your mesothelioma prognosis and life expectancy. Understanding mesothelioma life expectancy is crucial because it will guide you and your loved ones through your cancer journey.

What Factors Affect a Mesothelioma Patient’s Life Expectancy?

Cancer type, age and health are critical factors in a patient’s life expectancy. Genetics, cell type, stage and gender also play a role. Managing coexisting conditions and improving overall health can help extend life expectancy. Survivor Jerry Lempe, for example, has lived more than 40 years since his peritoneal mesothelioma diagnosis. 

“I say my prayer of thanks for the privilege of another day,” Lampe told The Mesothelioma Center. “It’s my way of not forgetting reality, but I often ask myself why I’m still alive.” 

Initially told he had 6-12 months to live, Lampe found immunotherapy worked for him.

Tumor Location

Life expectancy can vary based on where tumors form in the body. Patients with peritoneal mesothelioma often live longer than patients with pleural tumors in the chest. 

Roughly 3 in 4 pleural patients live longer than one year after a mesothelioma diagnosis. About 50% of peritoneal mesothelioma patients live five years or more with aggressive treatments such as surgery.

Cancer Stage

The stage of mesothelioma is a vital factor in your life expectancy. Doctors measure this from 1 to 4 to describe the extent of metastasis or tumor spread. Stage 4 is the most advanced and final phase. Life expectancy for stage 4 mesothelioma is 12 months with treatment.

Stages 1 and 2 are early stages. Patients with early-stage cancer tend to live for 19 to 21 months. Late-stage mesothelioma involves stages 3 and 4. These patients have a life expectancy of 12 to 16 months. If the cancer spread is not significant, you may be able to consider surgery.

Cell Type

Tumors include various types of cells. Life expectancy is higher for patients with epithelial tumor cells. Pleural patients with the epithelial cell type have a life expectancy of 14.4 months. Peritoneal tumors with epithelial cells increase life expectancy to 51.5 months. Sarcomatoid cells are more resistant to treatment. Biphasic cells are a mixture of the other two types.

Sarcomatoid mesothelioma tends to be more aggressive. These cells have a greater tendency to metastasize. Pleural patients with this cell type have a life expectancy of 5.3 months. Peritoneal tumors with sarcomatoid cells increase life expectancy to 10.5 months. Sarcomatoid patients often respond better to targeted therapies such as immunotherapy drugs.

Age

Younger people tend to have a longer mesothelioma life expectancy than older patients. They are often healthier and eligible for more treatments and clinical trials.

The longer you survive with mesothelioma, the better your life expectancy becomes. A 45-year-old who has lived five years with pleural mesothelioma has a life expectancy of 11 to 16 years. At age 85, that life expectancy is 6-9 years.

Gender

Men traditionally have held more blue-collar jobs with a higher risk of asbestos exposure.

Women with epithelial mesothelioma also live longer than men with the same cell type. An 80-year-old woman with pleural mesothelioma has a life expectancy of 2-3 years. Life expectancy for a man at age 80 with the same diagnosis is 1-2 years.

Overall Health

Chronic illnesses can decrease life expectancy. These can include heart disease, COPD, obesity and diabetes.

The combination of smoking and asbestos exposure increases the risk of lung cancer. Together, they lead to shorter survival after a mesothelioma diagnosis. Of mesothelioma patients who smoke, about 20% live for one year. About 20% of nonsmoking mesothelioma patients live for at least two years. 

How Does Treatment Affect Life Expectancy?

For most patients, treatment can extend life expectancy by several years. Stage 4 mesothelioma life expectancy is about one year with treatment. Without treatment, the average is seven months. An early diagnosis allows for aggressive and specialized therapies. These options provide the most benefit.

What trends are you seeing among mesothelioma patients? Dr. Andrea Wolf | 1:23

“We’re doing lung-sparing surgery more and finding patients can tolerate additional treatments better. Patients are surviving longer with mesothelioma even if they recur or progress,” Dr. Andrea Wolf told The Mesothelioma Center.

Palliative care can help ease symptoms such as pain and other discomfort. Late-stage treatments include chemotherapy, radiation therapy and immunotherapy. Surgery is not a standard option due to higher risks. 

Life Expectancy Without Treatment

With any diagnosis, cancer can progress fast without therapy. Pleural mesothelioma life expectancy without treatment is about 6-8 months. Peritoneal mesothelioma life expectancy without treatment is about six months. 

Some patients feel uncomfortable with cancer treatment. Deciding if the benefits outweigh the risks of treatment is a personal decision. Consider discussing the benefits and risks with your loved ones or physician. Electing treatment is your best chance at living longer with cancer.

How Can I Improve My Life Expectancy?

You can improve your health and extend your lifespan by working with a specialist and maintaining fitness. You and your loved ones have access to many resources. Consult your doctor before starting any new diet, exercise or therapy. Some supplements can cause harmful effects with cancer drugs.

A prognosis is a prediction of how well you might respond to treatment. This information can be very personal. Remember that support is available. A mesothelioma diagnosis is challenging, but you don’t have to cope with the stress alone.

When a patient’s loved ones ask about life expectancy, I recommend our support group and Wall of Hope. Patients often note life expectancy when letting me know that they’re looking for an action plan as far as managing legal action, VA benefits and making sure they can be there to attend milestones like a family wedding.

Dr. Snehal Smart

Patient Advocate

Common Questions About Mesothelioma Life Expectancy

What is the longest someone has lived with mesothelioma?

Jerry Lampe has lived more than 40 years with peritoneal mesothelioma, longer than any known survivor. Some mesothelioma patients live more than 10 years after their diagnosis. Tamron Little, a contributing writer for The Mesothelioma Center, has survived 15 years with peritoneal mesothelioma.

Tim C. was diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma in 2002. He underwent an extrapleural pneumonectomy at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. He’s lived more than 20 years since then and attributes his success to the support of his family.

Which type of mesothelioma has the longest life expectancy?

Peritoneal mesothelioma has the longest life expectancy. This is due to the effectiveness of the heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy procedure. A 2018 study reported that median disease-free survival with HIPEC was almost five years. The median overall survival was more than eight years.

Does mesothelioma have the shortest life expectancy compared to other cancers?

Yes. The cancers with the shortest 5-year survival estimates are mesothelioma (7.2%), pancreatic cancer (7.3%) and brain cancer (12.8%). The highest 5-year survival estimates are seen in patients with testicular cancer (97%), skin melanoma (92.3%) and prostate cancer (88%).

Will remission extend the life expectancy of a mesothelioma patient?

Remission does not necessarily increase mesothelioma life expectancy. A patient in remission has limited symptoms with no noticeable signs of cancer. Tumor cells may still be present and recurrence is possible. Mesothelioma can progress rapidly, but a long remission often indicates successful treatment.