Benign Mesothelioma & Survival Rates

The survival rate for patients with benign mesothelioma is actually quite high. This is the only form of mesothelioma that isn’t directly linked to asbestos exposure in most cases, and is also the only type of this tumor that routinely responds well to one course of treatment.

Benign or non-malignant mesothelioma is the growth of a non-cancerous tumor in the pleural lining of either the lungs or the chest wall cavity. Symptoms may include coughing, tightness in the chest and shortness of breath. In some cases, though, this benign form of mesothelioma doesn’t have any symptoms until x-rays are done for some other condition. In either case, the important factor is the localized nature of the non-cancerous tumor. Generally a benign tumor is highly localized and hasn’t damage surrounding tissue. In these cases, surgery to remove the tumor is a highly effective form of mesothelioma treatment.

Excellent Survival Rates

Most patients who have benign, non-progressive mesothelioma can have a completely successful surgical resection of the lobe of the lung that has the tumor. In most cases no other treatment follow-up is needed, since the benign tumor doesn’t spread cancer cells to any of the adjoining tissues.

Patients with benign, non-life threatening mesothelioma diseases routinely survive ten or even twenty years. In rare cases, the tumor may routine in a malignant form, but this is extremely rare. In most cases, there is no recurrence of benign mesothelioma.

Return from Benign Mesothelioma to the Mesothelioma Cancer Home Page