Mesothelioma Prognosis

What Is the Prognosis for Mesothelioma?

An individual mesothelioma prognosis is a doctor’s estimate of how a disease may affect you, based on statistics, your health and your treatment options. Mesothelioma is known for having a poor prognosis based on overall statistics, but each person’s experience is unique. With treatment, most mesothelioma patients live 1 to 2 years after diagnosis. Without it, they live 6 to 8 months. 

Some people respond well to treatment and live more than 10 years after diagnosis. Ongoing treatment can help keep mesothelioma under control. And advancements and new treatments are improving mesothelioma prognosis. While there’s no cure for mesothelioma, people have achieved partial remission. Complete remission is rare but possible.

Kasie Coleman, diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma in 2010, tells us her cancer went into remission in 2012. She underwent several cycles of chemotherapy and HIPEC treatments. 

“Before you begin to fight, you must first arm yourself with the right tools,” Kasie shares. “Get your mind right. It’s extremely hard to develop a positive attitude when possibly facing death, but it’s possible. I decided that although the statistics were horrible, I was going to be the exception.”

What Factors Affect a Mesothelioma Prognosis?

The key factors in a person’s individual mesothelioma prognosis are the origin of the tumor, cell type, and stage of diagnosis. General health and other personal factors also affect the response to treatment.

In determining an overall general prognosis for mesothelioma, experts look at statistics like survival rate, life expectancy and mortality rates. The latest available SEER data shows the 5-year survival rate for mesothelioma is almost 14%. This is for patients of all demographics, at all stages and types of mesothelioma.

While you can’t control factors like your tumor cell type, you can improve your health and choose mesothelioma treatment to improve your individual prognosis. Pleural mesothelioma survivor Michael Cole tells us he can attest to the importance of treatment. “I believe that the aggressive treatment I had in the beginning was absolutely necessary to give me a chance to be here now,” Micheal shares. “And I am grateful for the decision that we made.”

Type of Treatment

Choosing mesothelioma treatment is the best way to improve a patient’s prognosis. Long-term survivors often undergo surgery, immunotherapy, chemo, radiation or a combination of these four treatments. Some of these survivors also use treatment options like Tumor Treating Fields.

Surgery allows some patients to live for years. But only about 20% of people with mesothelioma qualify for it. About 50% of the patients who undergo chemo see tumor shrinkage. The addition of targeted therapy or Tumor Treating Fields may improve lifespan from 12 to 18 months.

Partial remission is more common than achieving full remission or no signs or symptoms of active mesothelioma. Mesothelioma treatment can partly remit or reduce tumor size by 50%. Patients may live for years in partial remission.

Type of Mesothelioma 

The type of mesothelioma you have can have a significant impact on your prognosis. Some types respond better to treatment and have a better overall outlook. The origin of tumors defines the types of mesothelioma, according to the CDC. 

Prognosis Associated With Different Types of Mesothelioma

• Pleural mesothelioma: About 12% of patients live at least 5 years.
• Peritoneal mesothelioma: Around 65% of patients live at least 5 years.
• Pericardial mesothelioma: Roughly 50% of patients live 6 months.
• Testicular mesothelioma: Patients live around 2 years, but some live more than 10.

Tumor location affects which cancer treatments can be safely done. For example, radiation isn’t usually recommended for people with pericardial or peritoneal mesothelioma because of the risk to sensitive organs. Mesothelioma type also impacts the risk of complications. 

Cell Type

Cell types that make up mesothelioma tumors also affect your prognosis. Some mesothelioma cells are more responsive to treatment. So people with these types generally have a better prognosis. 

There are 3 main types of mesothelioma cells: epithelioid, sarcomatoid and biphasic. Epithelioid is the most common type and has the best chance of responding to treatment. People with this type usually live longer than those with the other types. 

Epithelioid cells grow more slowly and stay in one area longer. This makes it easier for doctors to remove or treat them. Sarcomatoid and biphasic cells spread faster, which makes them harder to treat. Your cell type may affect which therapies or combinations of therapies are recommended for you. 

Mesothelioma Stage

Patients diagnosed in early stages have a better prognosis than in later stages when mesothelioma has spread or metastasized. A recent study in the journal Cancers focused on pleural mesothelioma patients at stages 1 and 2. Its results showed patients had a median overall survival of 32.1 months.

Stages and Mesothelioma Prognosis

• Stage 1: People who undergo surgery live about 22.2 months.
• Stage 2: Aggressive treatment helps people live around 20 months. 
• Stage 3: People live an average of 17.9 months with surgery.
• Stage 4: People live about 14.9 months with multimodal therapy.

Mesothelioma progresses or spreads at different rates. It depends on factors like the tumor cell type and grade. Many people aren’t diagnosed until they’re in stage 3. Tumors may progress to stage 4 in weeks or months without treatment.

Demographics & Overall Health

Younger people are typically more eligible for more aggressive mesothelioma treatment options. Women tend to live longer than men. And 18.6% of Black people with mesothelioma lived 5 years vs. 9.4% of white patients.

Patients who maintain a healthy diet and nutrition may also strengthen their immune system. A strong immune system can improve prognosis and overall health to fight mesothelioma and infections.

What Can I Expect With Mesothelioma?

Everyone’s journey looks a little different and can be different than their initial mesothelioma prognosis. The therapies you choose, your diet, exercise and overall health play a big role in your personal outlook and what you may expect.

Most people don’t experience strong symptoms until their cancer progresses. Pleural mesothelioma can cause chest pain, coughing and shortness of breath. Peritoneal mesothelioma can cause bloating, nausea and stomach pain. Mesothelioma treatment can reduce these symptoms. 

However, you may experience side effects from treatment. Some mesothelioma treatments can worsen fatigue or nausea. Palliative care can help minimize and manage both treatment side effects and symptoms. 

It’s also normal to expect to feel a wide range of emotions, including anger, fear or sadness. Joining a mesothelioma support group can help. Mesothelioma survivor Tami Pream recently joined our group and says, “It was good, very informative.” She tells us when another survivor shared experiences travelling during treatment, it gave her a lot to discuss with her doctor. She adds, “It was uplifting to listen to him.”

What Are My Chances of Recovering From Mesothelioma?

We conducted an exclusive patient survey to assess the state of mesothelioma in 2025. While mesothelioma prognosis is typically poor, 11% of our survey participants reported their doctor told them they were in remission or cancer-free. All of those who told us they’re in remission had received some form of treatment. Among them, 23% had surgery, and 76% had a combination of chemo and surgery. 

For many survey participants who achieved remission, it took the right combination of therapies and a care plan tailored to their needs. While mesothelioma often has a serious outlook, these findings show remission is possible. 

Dr. Andrea Wolf, who directs the New York Mesothelioma Program at Mount Sinai, helps many people with mesothelioma improve their prognosis or extend their life expectancies. Wolf tells us “I’m realistic, and there is good reason today to be optimistic. We can help these patients. We’ve proven that. They can live with mesothelioma — if treated effectively.”

How to Improve Your Mesothelioma Prognosis

You should be proactive and take steps to improve your personal mesothelioma prognosis. Choosing to seek treatment and make healthy lifestyle choices are key steps.

5 Tips for Improving Your Mesothelioma Prognosis

1. Ask about multimodal therapy: This type of mesothelioma treatment combines therapies to target cancer in different ways. People often see better results with a combination of treatments.
2. Consider palliative and complementary therapies: Palliative care helps people with mesothelioma manage pain and symptoms, making you feel more comfortable. Complementary therapies like acupuncture, massage or meditation may also ease stress and improve quality of life.
3. Find a mesothelioma specialist: A specialist has the expertise to develop the best treatment plan for you. Working with one offers the best chance of improving your mesothelioma prognosis.
4. Make healthier lifestyle choices: Gentle exercise and a balanced diet can help. They can reduce side effects and improve mesothelioma symptoms. Guided imagery and progressive muscle relaxation may help patients cope with their mesothelioma diagnosis.
5. Seek a clinical trial: Clinical trials can improve mesothelioma prognosis through experimental drugs. Some patients respond better to medicines that are still under investigation.

Susan Dickman’s stage 4 peritoneal mesothelioma diagnosis at age 72 left her stunned. Her doctors said her cancer’s progression and age made her ineligible for surgery. Refusing to give up, she sought a second opinion from Dr. Edward Levine, a leading mesothelioma specialist. With his expertise, Susan underwent surgery and significantly improved her prognosis.

“My husband and I interviewed many doctors via telehealth, going to Atlanta or driving to other places with my medical records and lab reports,” Susan tells us. “We chose a doctor who had done more of these surgeries than anybody else. Numbers count for any surgery.”

Common Questions About Mesothelioma Prognosis

We asked The Mesothelioma Center’s team of Patient Advocates what patients ask about mesothelioma prognosis when they call us. They’ve shared these questions along with their helpful answers.

How long can you survive with mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is considered terminal, however, some people have lived for years with ongoing treatment. While most people with mesothelioma live for 1 to 2 years with treatment, people have outlived their mesothelioma prognosis by more than 10 years.

Is there a cure for mesothelioma?

There is no cure for mesothelioma. But doctors can treat it. Doctors control tumor growth and manage cancer symptoms. Some people have experienced mesothelioma remission. 

What are the differences between prognosis, life expectancy and survival rate?

Prognosis is a doctor’s best guess about how mesothelioma may grow or respond to treatment. Life expectancy is the average amount of time someone may live after being diagnosed with mesothelioma. Survival rate is a number that shows how many people with mesothelioma are still alive after a certain time.

How can a mesothelioma specialist improve my prognosis?

Mesothelioma specialists have spent years learning about mesothelioma treatment. They know how to treat this cancer better than general oncologists. Working with a specialist is the best way to improve your personal prognosis.

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