Mesothelioma is a certain type of cancer. Its primary cause is exposure to asbestos. Because mesothelioma is sometimes not diagnosed until it is in the later stages, the prognosis can sometimes be grim. However, because mesothelioma is receiving so much media attention these days, some persons who were exposed to asbestos are beginning to receive earlier checkups. Hopefully, this will continue, and the mesothelioma prognosis will become better.
Mesothelioma prognosis depends on a number of factors. Among them are the progression, type, and stage of the tumor, the types of cells found in the mesothelia, and treatment. The “TNM” method of staging mesothelioma is used to help determine mesothelioma prognosis. “T” stands for the location of the original tumor site; “N” denotes whether there has been a spread to the lymph nodes. “M” concerns metastasis or the determination of if the cancer has spread to other parts of the body.
Mesothelioma prognosis also depends on the types of cancer cells found. These can be epithelial, mixed/biphasic, or sarcomatoid cells. Epithelial cells respond the best to treatment, while the other two are considered more difficult. Another factor indicative to mesothelioma prognosis is a person’s general physical health, as well as the person’s age at the time the mesothelioma is diagnosed. Of course, the younger a person is, the better he will respond. However, since asbestos exposure was more prevalent in earlier years, especially the ‘50s and ‘60s, most victims are older by the time the mesothelioma becomes present.
Wed, Mar 17, 2010
Health