Delays in Diagnosis
Receiving an accurate mesothelioma diagnosis in a timely manner is essential, yet it is complicated by several factors and tragically, most patients are in the later stages of the disease before they are diagnosed.
Long Latency Period
Mesothelioma typically has a long latency period. That is, many years may pass after a person is exposed to asbestos before they begin to show symptoms and see their doctor. During those years, cells in the mesothelial lining begin to change and become cancerous. A victim often has the disease for years before symptoms occur.
Symptoms Similar to Common Illnesses
Symptoms of mesothelioma, especially in the early to middle stages of the disease, are commonly confused with those of other more common illnesses such as the cold, influenza, bronchitis, or pneumonia. Often, patients with mesothelioma are first suspected to have one of these less serious illnesses and are given antibiotics or other treatment that has no affect on the cancer - giving the disease time to spread.
Mesothelioma is Rare
Between 2000 and 3000 people are diagnosed with mesothelioma in the United States each year. This makes the disease a rare one. As such, many physicians have never seen it before and may not suspect it, especially if they are unaware that the patient has been exposed to asbestos. This often causes even more delay when time is of the essence.
If you suspect or know that you've been exposed to asbestos, it is essential that you notify your physician and discuss regular mesothelioma screenings - even if you have no symptoms.
Mesothelioma Cells Resemble other Types of Cancer
During mesothelioma's modern history, the disease has frequently been confused with other types of cancer, especially other types of lung cancer. This is because some kinds of mesothelioma cells look very similar to the cells that cause other types of cancer. These other forms of cancer may be more treatable than mesothelioma and so receiving an accurate diagnosis is important to receiving the right type of treatment.
This confusion with other types of cancer has also led to a significant underreporting of deaths caused by mesothelioma. This has resulted in less familiarity with the disease, less funding for treatment research, and less companies being held accountable for exposing people to asbestos.
Being Diagnosed with Mesothelioma
To receive an accurate mesothelioma diagnosis, a patient usually goes through this process:
- The patient sees their physician complaining of symptoms. Ideally, the physician will suspect something other than a common illness and order tests.
- The patient will go through a round of diagnostic tests such as blood tests, x-rays, CT scans, and MRI. At that point, evidence of cancer such as a tumor or cancer substances in the blood are detected. The physician will order a biopsy.
- The patient undergoes surgery and samples (biopsies) of tissue and/or fluid are taken from the tumor and surrounding areas. The biopsies are sent to a laboratory where a pathologist examines them under a microscope. When the pathologist correctly identifies the cancer cells as mesothelioma, they will pass the information to your doctor.
- Your doctor will tell you that you have mesothelioma, and let you know if further tests are needed to see how far the disease has progressed (if it has spread to other areas of the body), what your prognosis is, and recommend treatment options.
Prognosis
Tragically, there is no cure and the prognosis for mesothelioma is very grim. It is an aggressive and rapidly spreading cancer. To date, mesothelioma treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery that have been successful in treating many other types of cancer at best only slow the progression of mesothelioma.
The average mesothelioma patient typically lives for about one year after diagnosis. It is important to remember that this number is an average: you may live significantly less or more, depending on your overall health, the stage of your mesothelioma when you are diagnosed, and the treatment you decide on. Some studies have reported rare instances when patients have lived seven years or even longer.
Research, experimental therapies, and clinical trials offer hope that a cure for mesothelioma will be found in the future. For individuals and families dealing with a diagnosis now, that may be of little comfort.