Mesothelioma Prognosis

A mesothelioma prognosis is the overall health outlook for your cancer, including how long you’re expected to live. The average prognosis for mesothelioma patients is 12-21 months, but many people have far outlived their prognosis with effective treatment. Our team provides medical guidance to help improve your mesothelioma prognosis and quality of life.

Medically reviewed by: Mark Levin, MD

Last updated:

What Is the Average Prognosis for Mesothelioma Cancer?

Average Prognosis for Mesothelioma Cancer

The average prognosis for mesothelioma cancer is 12-21 months with treatment. The typical mesothelioma prognosis without treatment is 4-12 months.

However, every patient’s life expectancy is different. Some of the patients we’ve helped have become 20+ year survivors despite initially receiving a poor prognosis.

A mesothelioma specialist can estimate prognosis based on your overall health and the cancer’s location, cell type, and stage.

Use our Free Doctor Match service for help connecting with top mesothelioma specialists near you.

Get Matched With a Mesothelioma Doctor
  • Find top specialists near you
  • Seek compensation for travel & care
  • Get medical guidance

Get Matched Now

Get Matched With a Mesothelioma Doctor

How to Improve a Mesothelioma Prognosis​

Getting mesothelioma treatment and maintaining an active, healthy lifestyle are key to improving your prognosis. Learn what specific actions you can take below.

Get Treatment From a Specialist

Mesothelioma treatment and prognosis are closely linked. Finding a mesothelioma specialist who can create a custom treatment plan is the best way to improve a prognosis.

Mesothelioma treatment options include:

  • Surgery to remove all visible signs of mesothelioma cancer (extrapleural pneumonectomy, pleurectomy with decortication, and cytoreduction with HIPEC are the most common)
  • Chemotherapy to kill cancer and keep it from spreading
  • Immunotherapy to help the body better recognize and attack cancer cells
  • Radiation therapy to shrink tumors and reduce painful symptoms

Depending on your health and other factors, your oncologist (cancer doctor) may recommend a combination of treatments, called multimodal therapy. Multimodal treatment can improve your mesothelioma prognosis by targeting different aspects of the disease.

“Maybe it couldn’t be cured, but I was going to find a way to survive longer than the year that they gave me. I put my faith in the belief that God was going to get me to where I needed to be.”
– Ellen Patton, 24+ year pleural mesothelioma survivor

Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle

Taking care of your health can help your body recover from mesothelioma treatment and improve your overall well-being. Both of these can have a positive effect on your mesothelioma prognosis.

Here are 4 ways to improve your health and wellness:

  1. Avoid smoking. Smoking can make it harder to recover from treatments and increase your chances of complications and side effects.
  2. Get proper nutrition. Following a mesothelioma diet can strengthen your immune system and help you feel better after cancer treatments.
  3. Incorporate light exercise. Walking or doing simple chair exercises can improve blood flow, reduce fatigue, and increase your appetite.
  4. Manage stress. Anxiety and stress can negatively affect your overall health and recovery. Meditation, prayer, and yoga may help you feel more relaxed.

Talk to your mesothelioma specialist to see how you can potentially improve your prognosis.

“Don’t discount the importance of nutrition, positive attitude, and exercise on the immune system. These things can really impact how a patient does.”

Dr. Andrea Wolf, mesothelioma specialist at Mount Sinai Hospital

Join a Clinical Trial

You may be able to improve your prognosis by joining a mesothelioma clinical trial.

Clinical trials test emerging treatments that have shown promise in earlier phases of research, ranging from new immunotherapy combinations to cancer vaccines. Over 50 clinical trials are recruiting mesothelioma patients in the U.S. as of June 2025.

Your mesothelioma doctor or a Patient Advocate can help you find a clinical trial that’s right for you and walk you through the enrollment process.

Mesothelioma Prognosis Video Thumbnail

Mesothelioma prognosis is the projected health outlook for this cancer. The average prognosis for mesothelioma is not as favorable as other cancers, with patients living for 15 months on average. But, it's still possible to become a long-term survivor, and some patients have lived for 20 years or more. View Transcript.

Duration: 1 min 03 sec

Mesothelioma prognosis refers to the predicted life expectancy and projected course of the disease. It’s an important factor in determining a patient’s treatment plan and overall outlook. The median overall life expectancy of mesothelioma patients is 15 months. However, there are mesothelioma survivors who have outlived their prognosis by more than 20 years. Your doctor will determine your prognosis based on your cancer’s location, cell type stage and other factors such as your age and overall health. It’s crucial to work closely with your doctor to understand your prognosis and available treatment options. While the overall prognosis for mesothelioma is poor, advancements in medicine and treatments are offering new hope for patients and their families. Early detection and treatment can make a significant difference in your mesothelioma prognosis. Contact Mesothelioma Hope today to get connected with top Specialists who can give you the best chance at long-term service survival.

Prognosis for Mesothelioma by Cancer Type

Mesothelioma most commonly forms in the lining of the lungs (pleura) or abdomen (peritoneum). The type of mesothelioma cancer you have will impact your prognosis.

Pleural Mesothelioma Prognosis

Malignant pleural mesothelioma develops in the lung lining and has an average prognosis of 18 months.

One of the biggest factors affecting the prognosis for pleural mesothelioma patients is the stage of the cancer at diagnosis. Pleural mesothelioma has four stages, with higher stages indicating that the cancer has spread further through the body.

Other key factors include your age, overall health, and mesothelioma cell type.

“Your mesothelioma prognosis is a little bit of a moving target. After treatment, the longer you go with no evidence of any recurrence (where cancer comes back), the better your prognosis becomes.”

Dr. Richard Alexander, peritoneal mesothelioma specialist

Peritoneal Mesothelioma Prognosis

Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma develops in the lining of the abdomen and has an average prognosis of 53 months.

Peritoneal mesothelioma doesn’t have official stages like pleural mesothelioma does, but doctors can assess cancer spread to determine a patient’s prognosis.

Our Patient Advocates can connect you with top specialists who treat your specific type of mesothelioma and can potentially improve your prognosis. Reach out to us now to get started.

Prognosis for Rarer Types of Mesothelioma

There are two rarer types of mesothelioma that can develop in the lining of the heart (pericardial mesothelioma) or testes (testicular mesothelioma).

  • The average is 2-6 months.
  • The average is over 46 months.

Because they’re so rare, the mesothelioma prognosis for each type can vary widely depending on when the cancer is found and what treatments the patient receives.

Mesothelioma Prognosis by Cancer Stage

Understanding the stage of your mesothelioma is an important step in determining your prognosis and getting the right treatment.

The chart below lists the average mesothelioma prognosis for each stage and the percentage of patients still alive after 2 years (also known as the mesothelioma survival rate).

Mesothelioma StagePrognosis*2-Year Survival Rate
Stage 121 months45%
Stage 219 months41%
Stage 316 months37%
Stage 412 months26%

Even if you or your loved one has advanced-stage mesothelioma, there is always hope. Former construction worker John Stahl has outlived the average stage 4 mesothelioma prognosis by over 5 years and is still enjoying an active retirement with his wife, Dee.

Get our Free Mesothelioma Guide for expert insights and information on the latest treatment options that could help you improve your prognosis.

Mesothelioma Guide Images
Get Your Free 2025 Mesothelioma Guide
  • Symptoms & staging
  • Average prognosis
  • Life-extending treatments

Get Your Free Guide

Other Mesothelioma Prognosis Factors

In addition to the type and stage of mesothelioma, other aspects of your health can impact your expected survival time.

Some of these include:

  • Age at diagnosis: Younger patients may be able to withstand more aggressive treatments like surgery and recover more quickly.
  • Cell type: Epithelioid mesothelioma has the longest prognosis of all the mesothelioma cell types and responds the best to treatment. Patients with biphasic and sarcomatoid cell types usually have a less favorable prognosis.
  • Gender: Women with mesothelioma tend to live longer and respond better to treatment than men, according to the National Cancer Institute.

Despite these factors, a mesothelioma diagnosis can’t be defined by statistics or one doctor’s prediction. Each patient is unique, and your experience may be very different than someone else’s.

“A misconception I see is patients assuming they can’t survive or live with mesothelioma. But many of our patients are walking around living relatively normal lives.”

Dr. Taylor Ripley, mesothelioma specialist at Baylor Lung Institute

Survivors Who Beat Their Mesothelioma Prognosis

Some patients have far surpassed their doctors’ expectations and become long-term survivors.

A few of these survivor stories are highlighted below. All of these patients were originally given a prognosis of 6-12 months but went on to beat the odds by several years.

Peritoneal mesothelioma survivor Julie with her family

Julie, 19+ Year Survivor

  • Type of mesothelioma: Peritoneal
  • Year diagnosed: 2006
  • Treatment received: Cytoreductive surgery with heated chemotherapy
Pleural mesothelioma survivor John with his wife

John, 6+ Year Survivor

  • Type of mesothelioma: Pleural
  • Year diagnosed: 2019
  • Treatment received: Chemotherapy
Peritoneal mesothelioma survivor, Alexis

Alexis, 18+ Year Survivor

  • Type of mesothelioma: Peritoneal
  • Year diagnosed: 2007
  • Treatment received: Cytoreductive surgery with heated chemotherapy
Pleural mesothelioma survivor Arthur

Arthur, 7+ Year Survivor

  • Type of mesothelioma: Pleural
  • Year diagnosed: 2018
  • Treatment received: Chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and alternative nutritional therapy

Reaching Remission From Mesothelioma

Achieving remission is a significant milestone for mesothelioma patients. Remission means the signs and symptoms of the cancer greatly decrease (partial remission) or disappear entirely (complete remission).

Patients who enter mesothelioma remission can continue receiving maintenance therapy to prevent their cancer from returning and help them live longer.

Remission from mesothelioma doesn’t always happen, but it isn’t impossible. More patients are experiencing extended periods of remission thanks to advancements in treatment.

Patient Mary Jane Williams was declared cancer-free a year after being diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma. She spent nearly 15 years in remission before passing away from Alzheimer’s complications.

Use our Free Doctor Match to connect with an experienced mesothelioma specialist who can create a personalized treatment plan for you or a loved one.

Get Matched With a Mesothelioma Doctor
  • Find top specialists near you
  • Seek compensation for travel & care
  • Get medical guidance

Get Matched Now

Get Matched With a Mesothelioma Doctor

Get Help Improving Your Mesothelioma Prognosis

It can be overwhelming to get diagnosed with mesothelioma and see bleak survival statistics. But you’re more than a number, and you don’t have to face this cancer alone.

Our team has helped thousands of patients like you access medical treatment, financial compensation, and supportive care to improve their length and quality of life.

We can help you:

  • Get a second opinion
  • Understand your diagnosis
  • Make lifestyle changes
  • Manage treatment side effects

Call us at (866) 608-8933 or fill out our contact form to get free, dedicated support from our Patient Advocates.

Malignant Mesothelioma Prognosis FAQs

What is the best prognosis for mesothelioma?

The best prognosis for mesothelioma usually comes when the cancer is found before it can spread. Patients who are diagnosed early on may live for several years if they qualify for surgery or chemotherapy.

The average early-stage mesothelioma prognosis is 20 months, but some patients have lived over 20 years.

For example, Ellen Patton was initially given a mesothelioma prognosis of only 12-18 months, but is still alive more than 24 years later thanks to an experimental immunotherapy she received soon after being diagnosed.

If you’re facing mesothelioma, our team can connect you with a local specialist to see which treatment options may be right for you. Use our Free Doctor Match to get started.

What is the prognosis for peritoneal mesothelioma?

The prognosis for peritoneal mesothelioma is 53 months with cytoreductive surgery (the gold standard treatment for this type of cancer).

Even without surgery, some peritoneal mesothelioma patients respond well to chemotherapy and immunotherapy and live much longer than expected.

What factors affect mesothelioma prognosis?

Several things can impact a patient’s mesothelioma prognosis.

These prognostic factors include:

  • Age
  • Cancer stage
  • Mesothelioma cell type
  • Overall health
  • Response to treatment

Generally, an early-stage diagnosis is associated with a better prognosis. People in good health are also more likely to qualify for surgery and other aggressive treatments that can improve their life expectancy.

Other factors include whether the cancer has spread to lymph nodes, how the patient’s body handles chemotherapy, and whether newer treatment options like immunotherapy are effective.

Dr. Mark LevinReviewed by:Mark Levin, MD

Certified Oncologist and Hematologist

  • Fact-Checked
  • Editor

Mark Levin, MD, has over 30 years of experience in academic and community hematology and oncology. In addition to serving as Chief or Director at four different teaching institutions throughout his life, he is still a practicing clinician, has taught and designed formal education programs, and has authored numerous publications in various fields related to hematology and oncology.

Dr. Mark Levin is an independently paid medical reviewer.

  • Board Certified Oncologist
  • 30+ Years Experience
  • Published Medical Author
Jenna TozziWritten by:

Chief Patient Care Advisor

Jenna Tozzi, RN, is the Chief Patient Care Advisor for Mesothelioma Hope. With more than 15 years of experience as an adult and pediatric oncology nurse navigator, Jenna provides exceptional guidance and support to cancer patients and their loved ones. Jenna has been featured in Oncology Nursing News and is a member of the Academy of Oncology Nurse & Patient Navigators & the American Nurses Association.

Our Promise to You
Our Promise to You
References
  1. American Cancer Society. (n.d.). Chemotherapy for MALIGNANT MESOTHELIOMA. Retrieved from https://www.cancer.org/cancer/malignant-mesothelioma/treating/chemotherapy.html
  2. American Cancer Society. (n.d.). Radiation therapy for malignant mesothelioma.Retrieved from https://www.cancer.org/cancer/malignant-mesothelioma/treating/radiation.html
  3. American Cancer Society. (n.d.). Malignant mesothelioma STAGES. Retrieved from https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/malignant-mesothelioma/detection-diagnosis-staging/staging.html
  4. American Cancer Society. (n.d.). Surgery for MALIGNANT MESOTHELIOMA. Retrieved from https://www.cancer.org/cancer/malignant-mesothelioma/treating/surgery.html
  5. American Society of Clinical Oncology. (2021, April 22). Mesothelioma – statistics. Retrieved from https://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/mesothelioma/statistics
  6. Brydges, H., et al. Primary Pericardial Mesothelioma: A Population-Based Propensity Score-Matched Analysis, Seminars in Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Volume 34, Issue 3, 2022, Pages 1113-1119, ISSN 1043-0679, Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1053/j.semtcvs.2021.07.020
  7. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2017, August 1). Malignant mesothelioma mortality – United States, 1999–2015. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/66/wr/mm6608a3.htm
  8. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. (2018). Underlying cause of death 1999-2017 on CDC WONDER online database. Retrieved from http://wonder.cdc.gov/ucd-icd10.html
  9. Faig, J., et al. (February 2015). Changing pattern in malignant mesothelioma survival. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4350634/
  10. Magge, D., et al. (April 2014). Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma: Prognostic factors and oncologic outcome analysis. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4100549/?report=reader
  11. Pass, H., Giroux, D., Kennedy, C., Ruffini, E., Cangir, A. K., Rice, D., Asamura, H., Waller, D., Edwards, J., Weder, W., Hoffmann, H., van Meerbeeck, J. P., Nowak, A., Rusch, V. W., & IASLC Staging and Prognostic Factors Committee, Advisory Boards and Participating Institutions (2016). The IASLC Mesothelioma Staging Project: Improving Staging of a Rare Disease Through International Participation. Journal of thoracic oncology : official publication of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer, 11(12), 2082–2088. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtho.2016.09.123
  12. SEER*Explorer: An interactive website for SEER cancer statistics [Internet]. Surveillance Research Program, National Cancer Institute; 2023 Apr 19. [updated: 2023 Jun 8]. Retrieved from https://seer.cancer.gov/statistics-network/explorer/
  13. Shavelle, R., et al. (2017). Life Expectancy in Pleural and Peritoneal Mesothelioma. Lung cancer international, 2017, 2782590. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/2782590
  14. Sugarbaker, PH. Long-term Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy for Malignant Peritoneal Mesothelioma. J Clin Haematol. 2022;3(1):12-23. Retrieved from https://www.scientificarchives.com/article/long-term-intraperitoneal-chemotherapy-for-malignant-peritoneal-mesothelioma
  15. Taioli, E., Wolf, A. S., Camacho-Rivera, M., & Flores, R. M. (2014). Women with malignant pleural mesothelioma have a threefold better survival rate than men. The Annals of thoracic surgery, 98(3), 1020–1024. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1016/j.athoracsur.2014.04.040
  16. University of Maryland Medical Center. (n.d.). Cytoreductive surgery and HIPEC – FAQs. Retrieved from https://www.umms.org/umgccc/cancer-services/cancer-types/gastrointestinal/diagnostic-treatment/peritoneal-surface-malignancies/cytoreductive-surgery-hipec
Free 30-Minute ConversationWith Jenna Tozzi, RN
Fill Out Your Contact Information
I understand by submitting this form that I am providing my consent to be contacted by Mesothelioma Hope, potentially using automated technology, at the number provided regarding my potential claim/their services. Consent is not required to use their services. Msg frequency varies, and message and data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help or STOP to unsubscribe. SMS Terms of Service. I understand and agree that by submitting this form I agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use and that this form does not create an attorney-client relationship and is not confidential or privileged and may be shared.
Get Help Connecting With Mesothelioma Prognosis
I understand by submitting this form that I am providing my consent to be contacted by Mesothelioma Hope, potentially using automated technology, at the number provided regarding my potential claim/their services. Consent is not required to use their services. Msg frequency varies, and message and data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help or STOP to unsubscribe. SMS Terms of Service. I understand and agree that by submitting this form I agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use and that this form does not create an attorney-client relationship and is not confidential or privileged and may be shared.
How We Can Help

Mesothelioma Hope is passionate about helping patients and families affected by this aggressive cancer. A mesothelioma diagnosis can be scary and isolating, but we’re here for you at every step. Hope is only a phone call away.

(866) 608-8933
Medical Guidance
  • Get a second opinion
  • Find a doctor or cancer center
  • Improve your quality of life
Talk to a Nurse
Financial Assistance
  • Access $30 billion in trust funds
  • File a mesothelioma claim
  • Increase your VA benefits
Connect With a Paralegal
Supportive Care
  • Learn what to expect from treatment
  • Find a support group or peer mentor
  • Get help with daily living activities
Speak to a Patient Advocate