When medical professionals talk about recovering from cancer, the discussion is usually centered around five year survival rates. While people do survive mesothelioma at the five year mark, the numbers are unfortunately low – about 10{d37eae5b8410ed8fb22098597e6ecfa689963c7e8a6548fdf24949bed3e82123} of people diagnosed with mesothelioma are still alive five years later.
There are a number of reasons for this. First, mesothelioma is very rare, with about 3,000 cases diagnosed each year. That means that many doctors have never seen a case and don’t recognize the early symptoms of mesothelioma cancer.
Second, those symptoms are easily mistaken for much more common issues like infections, allergies, or medications interacting badly.
Third, because mesothelioma tends to occur in older Americans, there are often a number of other health problems in play, making treatment more difficult.
And finally, because mesothelioma is often diagnosed very late in its progress, it’s often too late for surgical options that can remove infiltrated cells and give the body a better chance at recovering cancer-free.
Still, advances in mesothelioma treatment are being made all the time. Clinical trials developing cutting edge therapies are ongoing, and the five year survival rate for mesothelioma today is considerably better than it was for a person diagnosed years ago.
As a general rule, the earlier in its development your mesothelioma is diagnosed, the better your prognosis. If you have a history of workplace exposure to asbestos, or believe that you do, make sure your doctor understands that you are at risk for mesothelioma and other asbestos-linked diseases.
If you’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma in Louisiana, The Gertler Law Firm can ensure that you have the tools and resources you need to fight back in the most effective way possible. Call us today at (504) 527-8767 for a free consultation.
