What Is the Mesothelioma Survival Rate?
Survival rates are usually determined by researchers who study groups of malignant mesothelioma patients after they are diagnosed or have begun treatment.
The average survival rates for mesothelioma are listed in the table below.
| Time After Diagnosis | Survival Rate |
|---|---|
| 1 year | 73% |
| 3 years | 22.9% |
| 5 years | 10% |
It’s important to note that the statistical survival rate of mesothelioma does not determine how long a patient will live. There are several factors that can affect an individual’s overall mesothelioma survival time.
Factors that can affect a mesothelioma survival rate includes:
Mesothelioma cancer survival rates are slowly improving with new advancements in treatment and research.
In some cases, patients who were given a poor mesothelioma prognosis and low chance of survival have gone on to live for many years after their diagnosis. In fact, both pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma survival rates increased between 1992 and 2012, according to a 2015 study published in the journal Translational Oncology.
Survival Rate vs. Life Expectancy
A mesothelioma survival rate is often confused with mesothelioma life expectancy.
- Life expectancy refers to the estimated amount of time a patient is expected to live. It’s typically measured in years or months.
- Survival rate refers to the percentage of patients who live past a given time benchmark (e.g., 1-year survival rate). It’s based on the historical data of previous patients.
Survival Rate for Each Type of Mesothelioma
The location and type of cancer can greatly impact mesothelioma mortality rates. Some types of mesothelioma may be easier to treat than others, improving an individual’s survival rate.
Pleural Mesothelioma Survival Rate
Malignant pleural mesothelioma, which develops in the lining of the lungs, is the most common type of mesothelioma.
A study comparing survival rates of 10,000 patients with pleural mesothelioma was published in the Journal of Thoracic Oncology in 2010.
The overall pleural mesothelioma survival rates are shown in the table below.
| Time After Diagnosis | Survival Rates |
|---|---|
| 6 months | 55% |
| 1 year | 33% |
| 5 years | 5% |
Patients who showed the best median survival were those who received multimodal treatment (a combination of more than one treatment — usually surgery with radiation and/or chemotherapy).
Pleural mesothelioma is the only type that has a staging system, as the other types are less common. Mesothelioma staging is one of the most useful ways to break down survival rate data. The stage of the cancer refers to its metastasis, or how far the malignant growth has spread from its original location.
The following tables are categorized by mesothelioma stage and show the overall pleural mesothelioma survival rates and times. These figures can differ depending on the study.
| Pleural Mesothelioma Stage 1 | |
|---|---|
| Median Survival Time | 21-51 months |
| 2-Year Survival Rate | 41-46% |
| 5-Year Survival Rate | 13-16% |
| Pleural Mesothelioma Stage 2 | |
|---|---|
| Median Survival Time | 19-26 months |
| 2-Year Survival Rate | 38% |
| 5-Year Survival Rate | 10% |
| Pleural Mesothelioma Stage 3 | |
|---|---|
| Median Survival Time | 15-16 months |
| 2-Year Survival Rate | 26-30% |
| 5-Year Survival Rate | 5-8% |
| Pleural Mesothelioma Stage 4 | |
|---|---|
| Median Survival Time | 8-12 months |
| 2-Year Survival Rate | 17% |
| 5-Year Survival Rate | >1% |
These survival rates are approximate since the extent of metastasis varies within each general stage. Pleural cancer life expectancy may be extended with treatment.
Peritoneal Mesothelioma Survival Rate
Peritoneal mesothelioma generally has the best prognosis compared to other types of mesothelioma. This is largely due to improved treatments that combine surgery with heated chemotherapy to limit the spread of cancer. In turn, the peritoneal mesothelioma death rate is lower than other types.
Peritoneal Mesothelioma Survival Rates:
| Time After Diagnosis | Survival Rate |
|---|---|
| 1 Year | 92% |
| 3 Year | 74% |
| 5 Year | 65% |
| 10 Year | 39% |
Peritoneal mesothelioma survival rates are greatly impacted by treatment. Peritoneal mesothelioma patients who do not receive treatment have a median survival time of under 5 months to a year after diagnosis, according to a study from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital.
Since pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma are the most common types, there is more data about their survival rates. Pericardial mesothelioma and testicular mesothelioma have less available information due to their rarity.
Only about 1% of known and diagnosed mesothelioma cases have been pericardial. According to a 2013 study from the Norman Bethune College of Medicine, only a very small number of patients with pericardial mesothelioma will still be alive 1 year after diagnosis.
According to a 2019 study from the Institute of Urology at the University of Southern California, 49% of patients diagnosed with testicular mesothelioma were still alive after 5 years.
Mesothelioma Survival Rate by Cell Type
Mesothelioma tumors can be made up of different types of cells. Because some of these cells respond better to treatment than others, cell type also impacts mesothelioma survival rates.
Patients with mesothelioma tumors made up of epithelioid cells have the best survival rates, as these tumors generally respond well to treatment. Sarcomatoid mesothelioma cells, on the other hand, tend to spread rapidly throughout the body and do not respond well to treatment.
The following tables show the two- and five-year survival rates for sarcomatoid and epithelioid mesothelioma with treatment from a Dana-Farber Cancer Institute study.
| Epithelioid Mesothelioma | |
|---|---|
| 2-Year Survival Rate | 65% |
| 5-Year Survival Rate | 27% |
| Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma | |
|---|---|
| 2-Year Survival Rate | 20% |
| 5-Year Survival Rate | 0% |
Epithelial mesothelioma survival rates are generally higher than sarcomatoid and biphasic mesothelioma. According to the Institute of Urology at the University of Southern California, biphasic tumors were associated with a lower overall survival rate than those with epithelioid mesothelioma. Biphasic tumors are a combination of both epithelioid and sarcomatoid cells.
Mesothelioma Survival Rates by Patient Demographic
Survival rates of mesothelioma can also be affected by patient demographics. Most patients diagnosed with mesothelioma are Caucasian American men over the age of 65.
Sex
Although mesothelioma primarily affects men, women who have mesothelioma tend to live longer than men. Medical experts believe differences in asbestos exposure levels and hormones could contribute to women’s better prognosis.
The chart below shows the overall mesothelioma survival rates broken down by gender.
Survival Rate After Diagnosis
| Survival Rate | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Year Survival Rate | 37.6% | 45.4% |
| 2 Year Survival Rate | 17.4% | 29.3% |
| 3 Year Survival Rate | 10.4% | 22.2% |
| 4 Year Survival Rate | 7.7% | 18.6% |
| 5 Year Survival Rate | 5.9% | 16.0% |
Age
Older patients have a significantly lower survival rate than younger mesothelioma patients. Age affects survival rates because younger patients are typically in better overall health and respond better to treatment, such as aggressive surgeries that may cause complications in elderly patients.
| Age Group | Overall Survival Rate |
|---|---|
| Under 50 | 57.2% |
| 50-64 | 51.2% |
| 65-74 | 40.9% |
| Over 75 | 28.5% |
Race
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), mesothelioma affects Caucasian Americans more than any other race.
From 1999 to 2015, nearly 95% of all people who died in the U.S. due to mesothelioma were Caucasian Americans.
A 2015 study indicated that 84% of mesothelioma patients under the age of 40 and 92% of elderly patients were Caucasian.
Mesothelioma Survival Rates After Treatment
Mesothelioma patients are highly encouraged to seek cancer treatment after diagnosis. Patients may be able to improve their mesothelioma life expectancy with treatment.
Mesothelioma treatment plans typically aim to kill as many cancer cells as possible through surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, or a combination of these treatments to prevent the cancer from spreading.
Speak with a patient advocate to learn more about what treatment is best for you or your loved one.
Surgery
Mesothelioma surgery removes visible cancer tumors and any tumors that have spread to other parts of the body. Different types of surgery will be performed depending on the patient’s type of mesothelioma.
Survival rates for the different types of pleural mesothelioma surgeries include:
- Extrapleural Pneumonectomy (EPP): The median survival time for patients who received EPP was 18 months, according to 24 years’ worth of data analyzed by mesothelioma specialists David Sugarbaker, Raphael Bueno, and William G. Richards.
- Pleurectomy with Decortication (P/D): According to a 2017 study, patients who received a P/D lived for 10-25 months on average after surgery.
Chemotherapy
Cytoreduction with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) after surgery, or HIPEC alone, can greatly improve survival rates for peritoneal mesothelioma patients.
According to the University of Maryland Medical System, 69% of mesothelioma patients will still be alive 5 years after receiving this procedure.
One study observed the outcomes of patients who received this multimodal combination treatment and followed up with them over 5 years.
The results found the following 5-year survival rates:
- 67% for patients who received adjuvant (post-surgery) chemotherapy
- 62% for those who received perioperative (during surgery) chemotherapy
- 56% for patients in the study who didn’t receive any chemotherapy
SMART: Surgery for Mesothelioma After Radiation Therapy
Some pleural mesothelioma patients receive a high dose of intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) followed by an EPP through the SMART approach.
Clinical studies found that this procedure improved survival rates significantly when compared to a surgery-first approach. With surgery alone, the 3-year pleural mesothelioma survival rate was 32%. With SMART, the survival rate skyrocketed to 72%.
Multimodal Therapy
Multimodal therapy often yields the best results for mesothelioma patients. A trimodal approach of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation for pleural mesothelioma has proven to be the most effective method of treatment for increasing survival.
Multimodal therapy is also proven to be the best approach to treatment for peritoneal mesothelioma. This is seen through combination treatments like cytoreduction with HIPEC, which is a form of multimodal therapy because it combines surgery and chemotherapy.
Mesothelioma Survival Rate Without Treatment
Mesothelioma survival rates for patients who do not undergo life-extending treatment are low, as the cancer will continue to spread if left untreated.
In a 2015 study, peritoneal mesothelioma patients who could not undergo surgery had a median survival time of 11 months if they received palliative chemotherapy. Patients who received general supportive care lived for less than 3 months on average.
However, life-extending treatments such as invasive surgery may not be a safe option for patients with a late-stage diagnosis. Specialists can give these patients an estimated life expectancy if treatments are unavailable and recommend other options to ease mesothelioma symptoms or pain.
Seeking treatment may help your odds of beating mesothelioma. Our team can help you find mesothelioma treatment today. Use our free Mesothelioma Specialist Match tool to find a specialist near you.
Stories from Mesothelioma Survivors
There are mesothelioma victims who have surpassed low survival rates and have lived long, happy lives. Learn more about these four mesothelioma survivors.
George was diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma in 2014 after complaining of shortness of breath.
Faced with a terminal diagnosis, George defined life on his own terms by visiting close friends and golfing with his son while undergoing chemotherapy. He lived long enough to walk his daughter down the aisle at her wedding, and to become a grandfather.
Today, George’s widow and family continue to honor his legacy by participating in mesothelioma advocacy events in his memory.
Julie was diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma in 2006 after experiencing digestive issues. She developed mesothelioma from secondhand asbestos exposure as her father worked as an electrician and unknowingly carried asbestos dust from work into the home.
Julie has undergone five intensive surgeries, as well as chemotherapy, to help improve her prognosis. Thanks to treatment, Julie outlived her initial prognosis and is now in stable condition.
Today, Julie promotes mesothelioma awareness and advocates for a full ban on asbestos in the United States. She has been a featured speaker in many conferences as she supports change for other mesothelioma patients.
Richard received a mesothelioma diagnosis in October 2017 after suffering from chest pain and difficulty breathing. Unfortunately, asbestos — the only known cause of mesothelioma — had been present throughout Richard’s life.
His mother worked at an asbestos textile factory in Ohio during his childhood, and Richard joined the U.S. Air Force in the 1950s. All branches of the U.S. military used asbestos-based products to build planes, ships, vehicles, and bases from the 1930s to the 1980s.
Though doctors initially gave Richard a week to live, he beat the odds and survived for much longer.
Mike was diagnosed with mesothelioma at the age of 29 and was initially given less than a year to live. Mike had no idea that his initially mild symptoms, like shortness of breath, were the result of this deadly cancer.
Despite this grim prognosis, Mike continued on to fight his battle until he passed in 2020. He had endured numerous surgeries and joined the few survivors who have attained long-term survival. Mike will be remembered as an avid advocate for a ban on asbestos-containing products.
Find Mesothelioma Treatment Today
A mesothelioma survival rate can give you a better idea of what your prognosis is, but it does not define how long you may live after your diagnosis.
Treatment options like surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and more may be available to help you improve your overall survival time.
The Mesothelioma Hope team can help connect you with mesothelioma specialists in your area so you can learn more about treatment options that may help you live longer. Use our free Mesothelioma Specialist Match to find treatment today.
Mesothelioma Survival Rate FAQs
Can you survive mesothelioma?
Yes. Many people do survive mesothelioma. Factors such as age, overall health, mesothelioma cell type, and the type of mesothelioma can affect an individual’s survival rate.
However, patients who forgo mesothelioma treatment have a lower chance of surviving mesothelioma.
What is the survival rate for mesothelioma?
The survival rate for mesothelioma is generally calculated in time increments of 1, 2, and 5 years. The average survival rate for 1 year after diagnosis is 73%, 3 years after diagnosis is 22.9%, and 5 years after diagnosis is 10%.
These figures can vary depending on the data from different studies, as well as the type and stage of mesothelioma.
What can improve my mesothelioma survival rate?
Several different treatment options — such as chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation — can improve a patient’s survival rate for mesothelioma. These treatments aim to kill cancer cells to prevent the spread of the disease.
What's the longest someone has lived with mesothelioma?
Holocaust survivor Paul Kraus was diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma and was originally told he had less than 6 months to live. More than 20 years after his diagnosis, Paul is now the longest-living mesothelioma survivor in the world.
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