Malignant Epithelioid Mesothelioma
One of the most common mesothelioma cell types is the epitheliod mesothelioma, which is the cause of between half and three-quarters of the nearly 3,000 cases diagnosed every single year. The median rate of survival is 18 months, which is up to six months longer than other mesothelioma cell types.
Due to the nature of this cancer type, patients with this type of mesothelioma can often have access to more aggressive treatment plans or even innovative and groundbreaking clinical trials.
This is in part due to the aggression of the cancer itself, as well as its record for responding to treatment.
What Is Epithelial Mesothelioma?
Epithelioid or epithelial mesothelioma is one of the three types of mesothelioma cancers and results from exposure to asbestos or asbestos-contaminated conditions.
Of the three types, epithelioid has the best outlook and prognosis because it is the variety that responds to treatment the most.
When it comes to the various types of mesothelioma, the location where the cancer is found, and its impact on nearby organs and systems, will have the greatest impact on the types of treatments that will be available to the patient. The cell type, however, plays a greater role in how aggressive the treatment can be.
Symptoms Of Epithelioid Mesothelioma
The overall symptoms of mesothelioma will remain largely the same, regardless of the type of cells that comprise the tumors. Just as the other two cell types of mesothelioma do not cause any unique symptoms, or symptoms otherwise specific to cell type, neither does epithelioid mesothelioma.
Often, the first-seen symptoms of mesothelioma include a cough, persistent shortness of breath, and a general lack of appetite.
As the condition progresses and worsens, more serious symptoms may become noticeable, such as:
- Persistent but unproductive cough
- Hoarseness
- Coughing up blood or bloody material
- Low blood oxygen saturation levels
- Feeling full when you have not recently eaten
- Low iron levels and anemia
- Lack of appetite
- Persistent nausea
- Fatigue and general weakness
- Constipation
Epithelioid Mesothelioma Prognosis
Developing on the lining of the lungs, heart, or abdomen, patients diagnosed with epithelioid mesothelioma can expect to live an average of one to two years with treatment. The median survival time is 23.4 months, nearly twice the 12-month expectancy of patients with biphasic mesothelioma.
There are a number of factors that can influence the overall prognosis, including the staging of the cancer and its location in the body, as well as the age of the patent, their general health, and the effects of any pre-existing conditions.
Treatments
Treatment for epithelioid mesothelioma may include chemotherapy, radiation, and some surgical options.
In the majority of cases, the patient’s treatment plan will incorporate several of these options during the course of their treatment. Some of the treatments are able to be used as palliative treatments, which can reduce or even eliminate symptoms for the patient, drastically improving their quality of life.