Mesothelioma Survival Rate
Survival rate is the percentage of patients still alive for a specific period of time after being diagnosed with a health problem. Mesothelioma has a general 5-year survival rate of 12%, but many people with mesothelioma outlive the average survival rate with treatment. Learn more about mesothelioma survival rates and how treatments can help below.
What Is the Survival Rate of Mesothelioma?
The overall 5-year survival rate for mesothelioma is 12%, according to the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). This means that typically 12% of patients are still alive 5 years after a mesothelioma diagnosis.
Survival rates are one aspect of a patient’s overall malignant mesothelioma prognosis (health outlook).
The general 5-year survival rate listed above is a starting point, but you may be given more specific survival rate data depending on your unique diagnosis.
Further, remember that mesothelioma cancer survival rates are simply estimates and you could outlive them.
Lung Cancer Group has on-staff nurses who can help you find mesothelioma doctors and treatments. Getting care from top doctors may help you live past the average survival rates. Connect with our nurses now.
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20+ Years Helping
Mesothelioma Patients
Is Mesothelioma Survival Rate the Same as Life Expectancy?
No, survival rate isn’t the same thing as life expectancy. Mesothelioma life expectancy is how long doctors expect that you’ll live after your diagnosis, and it’s measured in months. The average mesothelioma life expectancy is 12-21 months.
Both survival rates and life expectancies are important in assessing a prognosis for mesothelioma. They can help you and your doctors determine the best treatment plan for your case.
Factors That Affect Mesothelioma Survival Rates
Mesothelioma survival rates vary greatly depending on unique patient factors.
Factors that affect survival rates of mesothelioma include:
- The stage of mesothelioma when diagnosed
- The treatment options available
- The types of cells present in a mesothelioma tumor
- Which type of mesothelioma you have
- Your age, overall health, and lifestyle
Mesothelioma cancer doctors (oncologists) will provide you with survival rate statistics that best apply to you based on these factors.
Survival Rates for Each Type of Mesothelioma
There are four types of mesothelioma, depending on where in the body the cancer has formed. Every type has a different survival rate as they are all treated differently, and some are easier to treat than others.
Find survival rates for each type of mesothelioma below.
Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma Survival Rates
This is the most common type of mesothelioma, affecting the lining of the lungs (pleura).
Most patients will still be alive 1 year after being diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma, according to Moffitt Cancer Center data. Long-term survival is uncommon in pleural mesothelioma cases but still possible.
| Time From Diagnosis (Years) | Pleural Mesothelioma Survival Rate |
|---|---|
| 1 year | 73% |
| 3 years | 23% |
| 5 years | 12% |
| 10 years | 5% |
Peritoneal Mesothelioma Survival Rates
Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma occurs in the lining of the abdomen (peritoneum). Those with peritoneal mesothelioma have the best long-term survival rates, with most patients living 5 years or more.
| Time From Diagnosis (Years) | Peritoneal Mesothelioma Survival Rate |
|---|---|
| 1 year | 92% |
| 3 years | 74% |
| 5 years | 65% |
| 10 years | 39% |
Get in touch with our mesothelioma nurses for free to find treatments that may help you live longer — no matter which type of mesothelioma you have.
Pericardial Mesothelioma Survival Rates
Pericardial mesothelioma affects the lining around the heart (pericardium) and is very rare. It has the least encouraging survival rates of any mesothelioma type.
| Time From Diagnosis (Years) | Pericardial Mesothelioma Survival Rate |
|---|---|
| 1 year | 26% |
| 3 years | 14% |
| 5 years | 9% |
Testicular Mesothelioma Survival Rates
Testicular mesothelioma develops in the testicle lining. It’s very rare, but there are effective treatments available. As a result, this type’s long-term survival rates are encouraging.
| Time From Diagnosis (Years) | Testicular Mesothelioma Survival Rate |
|---|---|
| 5 years | 49% |
| 10 years | 33% |
Mesothelioma Survival Rates by Stage
There are four stages of pleural mesothelioma and which stage you have can impact your overall survival time.
This is because higher mesothelioma stages mean the cancer has spread to other parts of the body, making it harder to treat. View survival rates for each stage of pleural mesothelioma below.
| Mesothelioma Stage | 2-Year Survival Rate | 5-Year Survival Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Stage 1 | 39% | 11% |
| Stage 2 | 39% | 11% |
| Stage 3 | 41% | 13% |
| Stage 4 | 31% | 11% |
These survival rates are from 2022 National Cancer Database (NCDB) data, and all patients in the study were treated with surgery.
For those diagnosed with peritoneal, pericardial, or testicular mesothelioma, doctors may refer to it as localized or advanced. Localized mesothelioma will have a more positive survival rate than advanced cases as the tumors have not spread and may be easier to treat.
Work with our on-staff mesothelioma nurses to find treatments for any stage of mesothelioma so you can hopefully outlive the typical survival rates.
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Amy Fair
20+ Years Helping
Mesothelioma Patients
Mesothelioma Survival Rate by Cell Type
There are three mesothelioma cell types, and some respond better to treatments than others. As such, survival rates vary with each type. View mesothelioma survival rates by cell type below.
Epithelioid Mesothelioma Cells
Epithelioid (also known as epithelial) mesothelioma is the most common cell type and has the best prognosis compared to other types.
The 2-year survival rate for epithelial mesothelioma cancer is 45% when patients are treated with surgery, according to 2022 NCDB data. The 5-year survival rate is 14%.
Epithelioid mesothelioma doesn’t spread as quickly as the other cell types, making it easier to treat. This is why epithelioid mesothelioma patients have better survival rates.
Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma Cells
Sarcomatoid mesothelioma is the most aggressive and rarest mesothelioma cell type. Data from the NCDB shows that when sarcomatoid patients are treated with surgery, the 2-year survival rate is 15% and the 5-year survival rate is 4%.
Sarcomatoid mesothelioma can spread very quickly through the body, which makes it hard to treat and contributes to the low survival rates among patients.
Biphasic Mesothelioma Cells
Biphasic mesothelioma tumors are made up of both epithelioid and sarcomatoid cells. The prognosis for biphasic mesothelioma varies, depending on the percentage of each cell type present.
The NCDB data shows that the 2-year biphasic survival rate is 22% and the 5-year survival rate is 5% when patients are treated with surgery.
Our mesothelioma nurses can help you find treatments that may increase your survival time. Contact us now.
Mesothelioma Survival Rates by Demographic
Survival rates for mesothelioma also vary by patient demographics — such as age, sex, and race. View survival rates for different demographics below.
Age
Younger patients have higher survival rates compared to older patients. This is because their bodies can often withstand more aggressive treatments like surgery, and they may have fewer co-existing health problems.
See the breakdown of survival rates by age in the table below.
| Age at Diagnosis | 1-Year Survival Rate | 3-Year Survival Rate | 5-Year Survival Rate | 10-Year Survival Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 50 | 68.6% | 47.1% | 39.2% | 33.4% |
| 50-64 | 54.9% | 23.7% | 15.3% | 8.1% |
| 65-74 | 38.1% | 11.8% | 6.4% | 2.7% |
| 75+ | 33% | 9.3% | 4.5% | 1.7% |
Sex
Women tend to have higher mesothelioma survival rates than men.
The table below lists the various survival rates for both men and women.
| Time From Diagnosis (Years) | Survival Rates of Men | Survival Rates of Women |
|---|---|---|
| 1 year | 41.3% | 51% |
| 3 years | 13.6% | 26.5% |
| 5 years | 8% | 18.8% |
| 10 years | 4.4% | 11.9% |
Race
Most people who develop mesothelioma are white, and they, unfortunately, have the lowest survival rates when compared to people of other races.
Learn about survival rates by race below.
| Race | 1-Year Survival Rate | 3-Year Survival Rate | 5-Year Survival Rate | 10-Year Survival Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indigenous | 52% | 24.1% | 22.2% | 16.1% |
| Asian | 44.7% | 17.6% | 12.6% | 9.6% |
| Black | 43.6% | 21.1% | 15.5% | 11.2% |
| White | 43.2% | 16% | 9.9% | 5.4% |
Treatment and Mesothelioma Survival Rates
If you have mesothelioma, you’ll need to get treated if you want to live longer. Patients typically have higher survival rates if they get treated. You might even be able to outlive the average survival rates depending on the treatments you receive and how your cancer responds to treatment.
Learn about top mesothelioma treatments and how they can help you live longer below.
Mesothelioma Surgery Survival Rates
During surgeries, mesothelioma specialists remove tumors from the body. This, in turn, can greatly help patients live longer.
Notable mesothelioma survival rates after surgery are listed below.
- Cytoreductive surgery with HIPEC: Used to treat peritoneal mesothelioma by taking tumors out of the abdomen lining and then applying heated chemotherapy. Patients who receive this surgery and additional chemotherapy have 5-year survival rates of 80%, according to a 2022 study from the Journal of Clinical Haemotology.
- Extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP): Used to treat pleural mesothelioma by removing a lung, the lung lining, and cancer tumors. When an EPP, chemotherapy, and radiation were used together, patients had a 3-year survival rate ranging from 28% to 40% in a 2022 Translational Lung Cancer Research study.
- Pleurectomy with decortication (P/D): Used to treat pleural mesothelioma by taking out the lung lining and tumors, but without removing a lung. Patients who received a P/D and chemotherapy had a 3-year survival rate between 45% and 59% in the 2022 Translational Lung Cancer Research study.
We can help you find and afford mesothelioma treatments that can help you live longer with this cancer. Connect with our mesothelioma nurses now to get started.
- Find Top Doctors and Treatments
- Connect You With Clinical Trials
- Answer Medical Questions
Amy Fair
20+ Years Helping
Mesothelioma Patients
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy involves the use of powerful drugs to target and kill cancer cells. It is a common treatment option for mesothelioma, particularly where surgery is not possible.
The 3-year survival rate for pleural mesothelioma cancer patients treated with chemotherapy was 15% in a 2022 study from the Annals of Oncology.
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy focuses on helping the body’s immune system fight cancer. The 2023 Annals of Oncology study found that pleural mesothelioma patients who received immunotherapy had a 3-year survival rate of 23%.
Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays to destroy cancer cells. Pleural mesothelioma cancer patients treated with radiation had 1-year survival rates ranging from 75% to 77% in a 2023 MDPI report.
Mesothelioma Survival Rates Without Treatment
Without treatment, survival rates are very poor since the cancer tumors will spread without any resistance.
In the 2022 NCDB data, pleural mesothelioma patients who didn’t get treated had a 2-year survival rate of 18% and a 5-year survival rate of only 5%.
The 2-year survival rate more than doubled to 44%, and the 5-year survival rate jumped to 16% among those treated with surgery.
Are There Any Survivors of Mesothelioma?
Yes, some patients outlive the average mesothelioma survival rates by years or even decades, becoming long-term survivors in the process.
Long-term mesothelioma survivors include:
- John Stahl: John was diagnosed with stage 4 pleural mesothelioma in 2019 after working with construction products laced with asbestos for decades. John has lived longer than many other stage 4 patients thanks to the treatments he’s received.
- Mary Jane Williams: Mary Jane was diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma in 2003, and after enduring multiple treatments, she was declared cancer-free. She passed away from Alzheimer’s in 2018, 15 years after her mesothelioma diagnosis.
- Paul Kraus: Diagnosed in 1997 with advanced-stage peritoneal mesothelioma and given just 6 months to live, Paul is still alive today. Paul credits changing his diet and using holistic care to help him live longer and improve his quality of life.
Get Help Improving Your Mesothelioma Survival Time
Mesothelioma survival rates can help you understand the average prognosis for this cancer, but you could live longer than expected by getting treatments. It might even be possible for you to become a mesothelioma survivor.
If you are looking to improve your mesothelioma survival time, Lung Cancer Group is here to assist you. We have mesothelioma nurses on staff who have decades of experience and can walk you through your cancer journey.
Our mesothelioma nurses can:
- Find top doctors and cancer centers near you
- Help you access financial aid to cover treatment costs
- Recommend the best treatment plan for your specific case
Speak with a mesothelioma nurse now or call (877) 446-5767 to get started.
Mesothelioma Survival Rate FAQs
Can you survive stage 4 mesothelioma?
Possibly, yes — you may be able to survive with stage 4 mesothelioma for much longer than expected if you get prompt treatment.
Stage 4 mesothelioma is the most dangerous due to cancer metastasis (spread to other parts of the body). However, John Stahl was diagnosed with stage 4 mesothelioma in 2019, and he is still alive today thanks to the chemotherapy treatments he received.
Can mesothelioma ever be cured?
There isn’t a cure for any type of mesothelioma right now, but treatments can be very effective and help you live for many years.
Patients have the highest survival rates when they’re diagnosed and treated before the cancer spreads. You may even be declared cancer-free depending on how your body responds to cancer treatments.
Doctors continue to study new and more effective treatments in clinical trials, with the hopes of improving survival rates and finding a cure.
Is mesothelioma always fatal?
Mesothelioma is often fatal, but it may be possible for you or a loved one to live for years or decades after a diagnosis.
As you look at survival rates and life expectancies, remember that these numbers are only averages.
You may have more time to live depending on how far your cancer has spread, how it responds to treatments, and many other factors.
How long will I live if I have mesothelioma?
There’s no way to be certain of how long you’ll live with mesothelioma, but mesothelioma survival rates and life expectancies may help give you an estimate.
The overall 5-year mesothelioma survival rate is 12%, and the average life expectancy is 12-21 months. However, you may live longer if your cancer responds well to treatment.
Connect with our mesothelioma nurses now to find top doctors and treatment options that best suit your case.
