Importance of Chemotherapy Treatments for Older Mesothelioma Patients

Recent studies indicate that older mesothelioma patients tend to receive fewer chemotherapy treatments than younger patients. Researchers at the Asbestos Diseases Research Institute (ADRI) studied hundreds of patients to evaluate the correlation of survival rates and chemotherapy. The results indicated that older mesothelioma patients should receive chemotherapy treatment for higher survival rates. According to The Mesothelioma Center, 43 percent of patients under the age of 45 tend to live at least five years after a mesothelioma diagnosis. For those over the age of 65, only 5.7 percent of patients live that long. Therefore, it is important for older patients to seek treatment that increases survival rates.

Mesothelioma is a particularly difficult cancer to treat. Therefore, chemotherapy treatments are crucial for extending survival rates in patients suffering from the fatal cancer. According to researchers at ADRI, survival rates tend to decrease as mesothelioma patients age. The researchers attribute the survival rate decrease to fewer chemotherapy treatments in older mesothelioma patients. To prove this theory, researchers at ADRI studied 910 mesothelioma patients from various age groups, consisting of participants younger than 70 years old, those between the ages of 70 and 80, and those over the age of 80.

The study found that 66 percent of patients under the age of 70 received chemotherapy treatment, and participants from this age group had a median survival rate of 13.5 months. For participants between the ages of 70 and 80, only 35 percent of patients received chemotherapy treatment. The survival rate for participants in this age group was 9.5 months. Shockingly, only eight percent of mesothelioma patients over 80 years old received chemotherapy treatment. This age group had the least favorable median survival rate of only 7.1 months.

Comparing Chemotherapy Treatment Results

The ADRI study shows how crucial chemotherapy is for the survival of mesothelioma patients. This can be proven by comparing patient survival rates to those who did not receive chemotherapy treatment. For patients under 70 years old, their survival rate was only seven months. This is also true for those between the ages of 70 and 80. However, chemotherapy did not allow for a longer survival rate in patients over the age of 80. This is likely because older patients tend to have difficulty recovering from aggressive therapies.

Philadelphia Mesothelioma Lawyers at Brookman, Rosenberg, Brown & Sandler Advocate for Those Suffering from Asbestos Exposure

If you or a loved one was recently diagnosed with mesothelioma, please consider contacting a Philadelphia mesothelioma lawyer at Brookman, Rosenberg, Brown & Sandler. Our lawyers work closely with clients and display compassion throughout the entire legal process. Contact us online or call us at 215-569-4000 for a free consultation today. Located in Philadelphia, we proudly serve clients throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania, including Delaware County, Chester County, and Philadelphia County.