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Mesothelioma resources package with book entitled The Cancer-Fighting Kitchen

Improving Mesothelioma Survival Rates: Top Resources for Families Fighting Mesothelioma

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    The Bestselling Cancer Fighting Cookbook
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    Pleural and Peritoneal Survivor Strategies
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    Advice from 101 Cancer Caregivers
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“The package we received on mesothelioma is excellent and very well put together. We knew nothing about mesothelioma and this was the greatest resource we could get.”

Hubert, Pleural Mesothelioma Patient in Massachusetts

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Understanding Survival Rate Limitations

Survival rates show the percentage of patients who lived for a period of time after their diagnosis, based on past data. 

For pleural mesothelioma, the latest 5-year survival rate is 12%, but it’s important to remember that these statistics only reflect patients diagnosed in previous years.

Advancements in treatment, clinical trials, and personalized care are improving survival outcomes for newly diagnosed patients.

For peritoneal mesothelioma, the 5-year survival rate (with treatment) is higher at 65%, largely due to the success of specialized treatments such as cytoreductive surgery with heated chemotherapy (HIPEC), which has significantly improved patient outcomes.

While mesothelioma remains a serious disease, some patients have lived 10 years or longer after their diagnosis and outcomes are continuing to improve, offering hope to newly diagnosed patients and their loved ones.

Steve, pleural mesothelioma patient and resource recipient
Steve, pleural mesothelioma patient and resource recipient

If you’re diagnosed with mesothelioma, move on it, and do it immediately, because it’s important. We don’t know how much time we have.”

Steve, Pleural Mesothelioma Patient and Resource Recipient in Arizona

Factors Affecting Survival

Survival rates vary widely based on many factors, including cancer stage at diagnosis, cell type, overall health, and treatment approach.

Patients diagnosed at an earlier stage often have more treatment options, which can significantly improve survival.

Epithelioid mesothelioma, the most common cell type, is associated with better outcomes than sarcomatoid or biphasic types.

Additionally, patients in good overall health who qualify for aggressive treatments tend to experience longer survival.

Marge, wife of pleural mesothelioma patient Marty
Marge, wife of pleural mesothelioma patient Marty

“My husband Marty had mesothelioma
long before he was diagnosed and
he was stage 4.”

Marge, Wife of Pleural Mesothelioma Patient Marty, and Resource Recipient

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Reminder: A 10 to 15 Minute Call Can Save You Weeks of Research

Schedule a quick and confidential conversation with our nurses Mary and Morgan:

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Every moment counts. Schedule a call now to discuss survival rates and how to best treat mesothelioma.

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How Treatment Can Extend Survival

While mesothelioma has traditionally been considered a fatal disease, newer treatments are helping patients live longer.

Multimodal therapy, which combines surgery, chemotherapy, and emerging treatments like immunotherapy, has been shown to improve survival in many cases.

For peritoneal mesothelioma, cytoreductive surgery with HIPEC has led to significantly better outcomes.

Participation in clinical trials is also providing access to promising new therapies that may further extend survival.

Robert, mesothelioma patient and resource recipient
Robert, mesothelioma patient and resource recipient

“When they tell you: you have cancer, everything changes. They gave me hope.”

Robert, Mesothelioma Patient and Resource Recipient in Illinois

Long-Term Mesothelioma Survivors

Although mesothelioma is aggressive, some patients have lived well beyond initial expectations.

For example, Paul Kraus, the longest-known mesothelioma survivor, was diagnosed in 1997 and has lived for over 25 years with the disease.

His survival has been attributed to a combination of treatments, lifestyle changes, and proactive care. Many others have beaten the odds with early diagnosis, advanced treatments, and strong support systems. These stories offer hope that long-term survival is possible with the right approach.

Robert, pleural mesothelioma patient and resource recipient
Robert, pleural mesothelioma patient and resource recipient

It’s a good thing I didn’t wait and I jumped right on it, because you wait and you’re just getting sicker.”

Robert, Pleural Mesothelioma Patient and Resource Recipient in California
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Reminder: About 30% of All Mesothelioma Patients Are Veterans

Access resources and support set aside exclusively for mesothelioma patients who served our country:

Limited availability for resources

John, pleural mesothelioma patient in Florida and Navy veteran
John, pleural mesothelioma patient in Florida and Navy veteran

“60 years ago I was exposed to asbestos in the Navy.”

John, Pleural Mesothelioma Patient, Navy Veteran, and Resource Recipient in Florida

7 Answers to Common Survival Rate Questions

01 How are survival rates calculated?

Survival rates are based on past data showing the percentage of patients who lived for a certain number of years after diagnosis.

These numbers help doctors understand general trends, but do not predict how long any one person will live, especially as new treatments continue to improve outcomes.

02 Are survival rates the same as life expectancy?

Not exactly. Survival rates show the percentage of patients who lived for a set period of time (for example: 1, 3, or 5 years), while life expectancy is an estimate of how long someone might live based on their specific diagnosis, health, and treatment plan.

Both are averages and don’t reflect individual outcomes.

03 Does gender affect survival rates?

Yes, research suggests that women with mesothelioma tend to have better survival rates than men. This may be due to differences in immune response, hormone levels, and the fact that women are more likely to be diagnosed with epithelioid mesothelioma, which responds better to treatment.

04 Does age affect survival rates?

Yes, younger patients generally have better survival rates, because they are more likely to tolerate aggressive treatments such as surgery and chemotherapy.

However, older patients can still benefit from newer therapies, especially when they are in good overall health.

05 How important are overall health and lifestyle factors?

Very important. Patients in good overall health tend to respond better to treatment and may recover more quickly.

Lifestyle factors like staying active, maintaining a nutritious diet, and managing stress can help improve quality of life and possibly survival rates.

06 Why do tumor location and cell types matter?

Tumor location affects treatment options and survival rates.

Peritoneal mesothelioma (in the abdomen) has a higher survival rate than pleural mesothelioma (in the lungs) due to effective surgical treatments.

Cell type also plays a role: epithelioid mesothelioma grows slower and responds better to treatment than sarcomatoid or biphasic types.

07 How do treatment approaches affect outcomes?

Treatment can significantly impact survival. Surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and immunotherapy—especially when combined in a multimodal approach—have helped many patients live longer.

Early diagnosis allows for more treatment options, while newer therapies and clinical trials are continuously improving outcomes.


Still have questions?
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About Mesothelioma Resources

We’re an award winning team of over 280 mesothelioma patient advocates across the United States.

We’re here to give guidance, answer questions, and provide you with practical next steps.

Our Featured Nurses: Mary and Morgan

featured nurses Mary and Morgan
Our Featured Nurses: Mary and Morgan

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