Center for Asbestos Safety

Mesothelioma – supportive and palliative care

Since overall prognosis is poor in case malignant mesothelioma, it would be appropriate to refer the patient to specialist palliative care services at some point of time during the course of the disease. Majority of patients need palliation of symptoms during the early stages of the disease and the acknowledgement of this fact by the patient, family members and the primary care physician is crucial for effective management of the disease. A central lung cancer nurse specialist can provide the right means to the patient, as is required to gain access to the effective delivery of care via the following primary elements:

Prognosis and survival

Life expectancy is poor in malignant mesothelioma cases, and median survival rates vary between 8-14 months. A large number of patients who have been enrolled in treatment trials for mesothelioma have been analyzed by the Cancer and Leukemia Group B, and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer. The following poor prognostic factors have been identified in the process:

Most of the patients who live for more than two years after diagnosis have epithelioid histology.

 

Center for Asbestos
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