Malignant Mesothelioma in the United States

Malignant mesothelioma can begin in the mesothelial lining of multiple organs, namely the pleura, the peritoneum, the pericardium, and the tunica vaginalis. The most common form of mesothelioma is by far pleural mesothelioma, followed by peritoneal mesothelioma. Pericardial mesothelioma and mesothelioma of the tunica vaginalis are both very rare, affecting less than 1 percent of patients.

Staging

It is difficult for doctors to diagnose mesothelioma in the early stages and a biopsy is the main way that mesothelioma is eventually diagnosed. It has also been difficult to correctly stage mesothelioma, however the TNM staging system (tumor, nodes, metastasis) is usually used to stage mesothelioma. It is usually better to use the subtype of mesothelioma that someone has been diagnosed with to properly predict overall survival. The three subtypes of mesothelioma are sarcomatoid, epithelioid, and biphasic. Epithelioid is associated with the best overall prognosis. Those who have unresectable mesothelioma, meaning that the tumor cannot be removed through surgery, are usually treated through chemotherapy.

Study

A recent study was conducted to determine the patterns of care and survival rates of mesothelioma patients in the US. The study was done by analyzing data that was gathered by the National Cancer Institute. In this study most patients had been diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma, which makes sense since this is the most common type. The study found that those with pleural mesothelioma had a poorer prognosis than those with non-pleural mesothelioma. Over 86 percent of patients with pleural mesothelioma were deceased within two years, while 55 percent of non-pleural mesothelioma patients were deceased within this time frame. Those who underwent surgery or systemic therapy tended to have better overall survival rates. It was also shown that all-cause survival rates among pleural mesothelioma patients had to do with several factors, such as stage, histological subtype, socioeconomic status, treatment at a hospital with an approved residency program, bed size, and whether they received radiation therapy. Only 54 percent of patients with malignant mesothelioma received systemic therapy during this study. Although that is more than half, it is still a low number based on how aggressive the disease is. Mesothelioma patients are usually older, and it can be difficult to operate on them due to their physical condition. The data from this study tells us that 10 percent of pleural mesothelioma patients have resectable disease, meaning that the tumor can be removed through surgery.

Clinical Trials

It is believed that clinical trials are the best way to determine new treatments that may benefit mesothelioma victims. In the study that I have highlighted, less than 5 percent of patients with pleural mesothelioma and less than 2 percent of patients with other types of mesothelioma took part in a clinical trial. This tracks with clinical trial participation for cancer patients in general as people may understandably be skeptical. Between three to five percent of cancer patients in general participate in clinical trials. It is necessary that we address the hesitation that cancer patients have when it comes to participating in clinical trials as these trials can be very helpful in determining new treatment options, specifically for those who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease, please call The Halpern Law Firm at (800) 505-6000 today. We truly care about all victims of mesothelioma and are here to help you get the compensation you deserve. For more information, please fill out our form. Sources: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5726440/ Written By Sadie Gold

Don’t Wait—Contact an Experienced Pennsylvania Mesothelioma Attorney Today!

Now that you know the mesothelioma statute of limitations in Pennsylvania, contact an experienced attorney from our firm to represent your case before time runs out. At Halpern Law Firm, we help clients throughout Pennsylvania, with offices in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, Scranton and Johnstown. Call us today for a free consultation at (800) 505-6000.