The British Journal of Cancer published a study this month about survival rates of patients with mesothelioma that showed the key is not treatment options but early detection. That is contrary to previous medical theories.

Mesothelioma is a rare and often deadly form of cancer that develops from exposure to asbestos or inhalation of asbestos fibers.

At the beginning of the study, the researchers set out to discover which medical treatment resulted in longer survival rates for mesothelioma patients. However, what was surprising to the researchers was that specific treatments did not have make any difference in long-term patient survival rates.

One of the biggest differences for long-term mesothelioma patient survival was early diagnosis of a patient’s mesothelioma. Additionally, it was discovered that 84 percent of mesothelioma patients who survived long-term did not undergo any type of radical surgery and 34 percent of long-term mesothelioma survivors did not receive chemotherapy.

So what are other factors resulting in long-term survival rates in mesothelioma patients? The researchers of this Australian study found several factors that had a greater impact on patient survival rate than treatment plans, including age, gender and certain blood levels.

A similar mesothelioma study in the United States published two months prior drew similar results to the Australian research study in terms of patient survival rates based on gender. In general, it was allegedly discovered that women diagnosed with mesothelioma tended to live longer than their male counterparts.

Background on Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a rare cancer that develops from asbestos exposure or inhalation of asbestos fibers. When an individual inhales asbestos fibers, those particles become trapped in the lung or lung lining and overtime accumulate, thus scarring and inflaming the lung and lung lining and creating tumors.

While direct exposure to asbestos has been known to be dangerous for quite some time, recent medical studies show that even secondary exposure can result in mesothelioma or lung cancer. Family members of individuals who work with asbestos products and live in close quarters with those individuals can also develop mesothelioma from inhaling the asbestos fibers still present on their loved ones.

Individuals in certain trade professions have a higher risk of developing mesothelioma lung cancer during their lifetime. These occupations include:

• Shipyards workers
• Auto mechanics
• Paper mill workers
• Construction workers
• Textile workers
• Insulation installers
• Sheet metal workers
• Roofers
• Toll collectors
• Tilers
• Linotype technicians
• Plumbers

In these occupations, workers may have had prolonged exposure to asbestos in enclosed spaces with little to no protective gear. Because of the various medical and consumer reports of primary and secondary exposure to asbestos allegedly causing mesothelioma, many families and workers are filing mesothelioma lawsuits or joining asbestos mesothelioma class action lawsuits.