Mesothelioma is a rare cancer diagnosed in approximately 2,500 people in the U.S. each year. The average survival is 12-18 months, and surgery can help people extend their survival.
Women with mesothelioma, in particular, have significant improvements in survival after aggressive surgery.
According to a study published in Translational Lung Cancer Research, the median survival was 38 months for women receiving a type of mesothelioma surgery called extended pleurectomy with decortication. This equals a median survival of more than three years and offers hope to women with this terrible and aggressive cancer.
What is Extended Pleurectomy/Decortication Surgery?
Extended pleurectomy with decortication, also called extended P/D, is an aggressive procedure to remove the lining of the lungs and part or all of the diaphragm and pericardium (lining of the heart).
The lining of the lungs is called the pleura. This lining consists of two tissue layers with fluid sandwiched between them. The inner tissue layer is called the visceral pleura and covers the surface of the lungs. The outer tissue layer is called the parietal pleura and rests against the chest wall. The pleura provides a buffer allowing the lungs to expand as needed without causing discomfort when pressing against the chest wall.
Mesothelioma that forms in the pleura is called pleural mesothelioma. Approximately 75% of mesothelioma cases are pleural mesothelioma. Extended P/D surgery is used specifically for pleural mesothelioma.
Tumors usually form and spread in one side of the pleura and can spread to the nearby lungs. Regular P/D surgery removes just the pleura. Doctors strip the pleura off of the affected lung.
Mesothelioma spreads as many microscopic tumors rather than one bulky tumor. Tiny tumors or remnant cells can spread beyond the pleura to the diaphragm and the lining of the heart. This is why doctors prefer extended P/D surgery.
Statistics for Women With Mesothelioma
Most people diagnosed with mesothelioma are men. Women account for approximately 22% of mesothelioma cases.
Women generally have better mesothelioma survival rates than men. Below are approximate survival rates:
- 3-year survival rate – 25% for women and 15% for men
- 5-year survival rate – 13% for women and 5% for men
This is due to multiple reasons. Women often react quicker to symptoms, which leads to an earlier diagnosis and start to treatment. Women also are more likely than men to undergo aggressive treatment.
How Extended P/D Helps Women With Mesothelioma
A study at a single institution included 114 women who received extended P/D surgery for mesothelioma.
The median survival of 38 months for the women was supplemented by a 28% 5-year survival rate. This is approximately double the overall 5-year survival rate for women with mesothelioma.
Survival after mesothelioma surgery was even better for women with the epithelioid cell type. Epithelioid mesothelioma is the most common of the three cell types and has the best prognosis with surgery. Women with this cell type in the study had a median overall survival of 44 months (3 years, 8 months) and a 5-year survival rate of 36.4%.
Women with mesothelioma can qualify for surgery at a high-ranking cancer center. Get in touch with Mesothelioma Guide patient advocate and registered nurse Karen Ritter to find a doctor who performs extended P/D surgery. Email Karen at karen@mesotheliomaguide.com for help today.
Sources & Author
- Prolonged survival and novel prognostic factors in women with pleural mesothelioma treated with extended pleurectomy decortication. Translational Lung Cancer Research. Retrieved from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38736489/. Accessed: 07/02/2024.
Sources & Author
