The prognosis for mesothelioma will be determined by....

The prognosis for mesothelioma will be determined by subjecting the patient through physical examinations and certain medical tests. For those patients who are diagnosed of peritoneal or pleural type of cancer, the mesothelioma prognosis of these types is often bleak or depressing. Since there are various persons who are suffering from mesothelioma, the prognosis will also vary from one person to another. Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that typically occurs due to exposure to asbestos. A mesothelioma prognosis depends on the stage of the disease and the age of the patient at the time of diagnosis.

Prognosis. Malignant mesothelioma usually is advanced by the time it is diagnosed, so the outlook usually is poor. On average, the survival time after diagnosis is about one year. Typically the most important variable determining the prognosis and life expectancy of a mesothelioma patient is the stage of the cancer when it is diagnosed. Unfortunately, mesothelioma is more difficult to "stage" than other cancers. The epithelial type accounts for 50% to 70% of people diagnosed with mesothelioma, and has the best prognosis (slower growth, more likely to respond to treatment).