Years Later
Malignant pleural mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive cancer due to exposure to asbestos. Many people diagnosed with the disease do not make it through the first year. Dr. Kernstine says that while he cannot promise anything, he can increase your chances of living a longer life.
Some of his patients are still with him, now years later after they were first diagnosed. The number of his patients who have survived has grown big enough to form a local support group, which helps these individuals discuss their hopes and dreams and find meaning and support in living with the disease.
Dr. Kemp Kernstine believes that medical science will discover new, life-extending drugs for mesothelioma.
Life Expectancy
The life expectancy for individuals diagnosed with malignant pleural mesothelioma is around 6 to 18 months. For people who seek care at the University of Texas (UT) Southwestern Medical Center, it has been a little higher. Dr. Kernstine is committed to surgically managing the disease, but he believes true progress will come from advancements in drug research.
Intensive Research
UT Southwestern’s mesothelioma research is one of the reasons that drove Dr. Kernstine to work for the hospital. He believes that medical science will discover new, life-extending drugs for mesothelioma. Rather than curing the disease, he believes these drugs will help keep the disease contained.
When facing a diagnosis of mesothelioma, it is crucial to find the right treatment right away. Contact Dr. Kemp Kernstine today.
Rae Steinbach
Lauren Weinand