Mesothelioma carries a poor prognosis

Because its symptoms are vague and its onset can be slow, mesothelioma carries a poor prognosis, with a median survival time of only 6 to 18 months. Diffuse malignant mesothelioma is an extremely aggressive disease, and the prognosis is very poor, both for pleural (lung) mesothelioma and peritoneal cancer.

Pleural mesothelioma is a rapidly fatal asbestos-associated malignancy with a median survival time of less than one year following diagnosis. Pleural Mesothelioma is the most common type of mesothelioma, appearing in some 70% of diagnosed cases. Pleural thickening gradually contracts the breathing space, causing shortness of breath—often the first symptom for pleural mesothelioma.