of 39. The higher the PCI, the further the cancer has spread.
Tests before surgery
If radical surgery is being considered as a suitable treatment option, you may have other scans and procedures to check whether mesothelioma has spread to other areas of the body.
These may include the following:
FDG-PET – A positron emission tomography (PET) scan detects radiation from a low-level radioactive drug that is injected into the body. In an FDG-PET, the drug used is called fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG). The FDG shows up areas of abnormal tissue.
MRI scan – A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan uses a powerful magnet and radio waves to create detailed, cross-sectional pictures of the soft tissues in your body. The noisy, narrow machine makes some people feel anxious or claustrophobic. If you think you may become distressed, mention it beforehand to your medical team. You may be given a mild sedative to help you relax.
Endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) – A tube called a bronchoscope, which has a small ultrasound probe on the end, will be put down your throat into your trachea. This allows the respiratory physician to identify lymph nodes for biopsy.
Surgical staging – Before radical surgery for pleural mesothelioma, if it’s unclear from the PET scan whether mesothelioma has spread, the surgeon may remove a sample of lymph nodes and tissue from other areas of the body. Surgical staging is not recommended before a peritonectomy for peritoneal mesothelioma.
Prognosis means the expected outcome of a disease. You may wish to discuss your prognosis with your doctor, but it is not possible for anyone to predict the exact course of the illness.
Mesothelioma behaves differently in different people. It is often present for many months before being diagnosed at an advanced stage, which will affect prognosis. After diagnosis, mesothelioma may progress quickly or more slowly. If it progresses slowly, some people may live for several years or longer.
Your doctor will consider several factors when discussing prognosis with you, including:
- the type of mesothelioma cell
- the stage
- the type of treatment you are able to have
- your symptoms, such as weight loss or pain
- your blood count – people with normal levels of blood cells usually have a better prognosis
- your overall health – recovering quickly after procedures tends to suggest a better outcome.
While knowing the stage helps doctors plan treatment, it is not always useful for working out prognosis for people with mesothelioma. This is partly because it is hard to predict how quickly mesothelioma will grow. In general, the earlier cancer is diagnosed, the better the outcome. If the cancer has advanced to a point where it is difficult to treat successfully, the priority will be to relieve symptoms and improve your quality of life.
This information is reviewed by
This information was last reviewed August 2019 by the following expert content reviewers: A/Prof Brian McCaughan, Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, NSW; Theodora Ahilas, Principal Lawyer, Maurice Blackburn Lawyers, NSW; Prof David Ball, Director, Lung Service, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, VIC; Shirley Bare, Consumer; Cassandra Dickens, Clinical Nurse Consultant, Cancer Care Coordinator – Thoracic Malignancies, Sunshine Coast University Hospital, QLD; Penny Jacomos, Social Worker, Asbestos Diseases Society of South Australia, SA; A/Prof Thomas John, Medical Oncologist, Senior Clinical Research Fellow, Austin Health, and Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, VIC; Victoria Keena, Executive Officer, Asbestos Diseases Research Institute, NSW; Penny Lefeuvre, Consumer; Jocelyn McLean, Mesothelioma Support Coordinator, Asbestos Diseases Research Institute, NSW; Prof David Morris, Peritonectomy Surgeon, St George Hospital and University of New South Wales, NSW; Caitriona Nienaber, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council Western Australia; Prof Anna Nowak, Medical Oncologist, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, and Professor of Medicine, School of Medicine and Pharmacology, The University of Western Australia, WA; Prof Jennife