Mesothelioma remission occurs when tumors shrink or disappear after treatment. Remission could allow you to live longer with little to no symptoms. Mesothelioma recurrence is when cancer comes back after a period of remission. Additional treatment could help if your cancer returns.
Remission means that you have fewer or no signs of cancer. Not every mesothelioma patient achieves remission, but those who do may live longer, sometimes for many years or even decades.
The best way to work toward mesothelioma remission is to get treated by doctors who specialize in this cancer. Each case of mesothelioma is unique, and specialists can tailor a treatment plan to help you live as long as possible.
If your cancer does go into remission, there’s always a chance of recurrence (where it comes back). However, your health care team can recommend follow-up treatments to help in the event of a recurrence.
Get our Free Veterans Packet now to learn about cancer treatments that may send mesothelioma into remission and how you can access them.
It’s rare for mesothelioma to go into remission. However, it has happened for other cancer patients, typically following major treatments. Doctors will monitor how your cancer responds to treatment and tell you if it has gone into remission.
If your cancer does enter remission, mesothelioma doctors may recommend regular follow-up testing and monitoring. This can help catch the cancer if it starts to recur, so it can be treated again.
“I had a recurrence of mesothelioma in 2019. I had a lymph node taken out that was cancerous and I’ve had a little bit of chemotherapy since then. But, for the most part, I’ve been fine.”
– John, 13+ year survivor in remission
Types of Mesothelioma Remission
There are two main types of mesothelioma remission: complete and partial. Complete remission means you have no signs or symptoms of mesothelioma. Partial remission is when you still have cancer but the tumors are smaller.
Your mesothelioma could also become stable, which means you still have cancer but it stops growing and spreading.
Complete Mesothelioma Remission
In complete or full mesothelioma remission, there is no evidence of disease (NED) in your body and you are not experiencing any symptoms either.
Mary Jane Williams achieved complete remission following surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, and the mesothelioma never came back. She lived for 15 years cancer-free and passed away from unrelated issues.
Partial Mesothelioma Remission
Partial mesothelioma remission occurs when cancer tumors shrink but don’t fully go away. While it can be concerning that you still have cancer, it’s still possible to live a long time in partial remission.
Nearly half of mesothelioma cancer patients in a 2023 study achieved partial remission with immunotherapy treatment. All the patients in this study had experienced a recurrence before starting the immunotherapy.
Stable Disease
You may have stable disease if your mesothelioma tumors stop growing following treatment. While stable disease does not mean you are cancer-free, long-term survivorship could still be possible.
Julie Gundlach has lived with mesothelioma for almost 20 years after her 2006 diagnosis. She’s never been in remission, but her cancer became stable thanks to several rounds of treatment.
Treatments That Can Lead to Mesothelioma Remission
Many mesothelioma treatment options can lead to remission and improve your quality of life, even if your cancer has recurred. Doctors can use different combinations of the treatments below depending on factors in your case, such as tumor spread, location, and more.
Mesothelioma treatments that can help achieve remission include:
Chemotherapy: This is cancer-killing medication. A recent Lung Cancer study reported that four mesothelioma patients achieved complete remission and lived for over 6 years with chemotherapy and surgery.
Immunotherapy: This boosts the immune system’s ability to fight cancer. A Clinical Colorectal Cancer study noted that a mesothelioma patient was in almost complete remission after receiving immunotherapy.
Radiation: Radiation therapy uses energy beams to destroy mesothelioma. A patient who received radiation and immunotherapy achieved complete remission in a Clinical and Translational Radiation Oncology report.
Surgeries: Doctors take out tumors from the body with mesothelioma surgeries. Different ones could be used depending on where the mesothelioma tumors are located and your overall health.
Call (877) 450-8973 now for more information on treatments that could help you or someone you love achieve mesothelioma remission.
Clinical Trials for Mesothelioma Remission
Ongoing clinical trials test new treatments that may help patients achieve mesothelioma remission and live longer.
Gene therapy: This targets gene changes that make it easier for mesothelioma cells to live. In a recent study, nearly 8 out of 10 mesothelioma patients achieved stable disease thanks to a gene therapy drug called olaparib.
Targeted therapy: This attacks cancer cells without hurting healthy ones. A 2021 study found that mesothelioma patients who received the targeted therapy drug rucaparib achieved full remission, partial remission, or stable disease.
Vaccine therapy: This is a type of immunotherapy that uses vaccines to improve the immune response. An ongoing study is testing how vaccines and other immunotherapies could help patients reach remission.
You can ask your mesothelioma doctor if joining a clinical trial could help you reach remission or potentially improve your survival time.
Mesothelioma Remission Rates
The mesothelioma remission rate is fairly low. In general, this cancer is very aggressive and can come back following treatment. Also, many patients are diagnosed only after the cancer has spread, which limits their treatment options.
Here are the remission rates by mesothelioma type:
Pleural mesothelioma: This type forms in the lining of the lungs. About 7% of malignant pleural mesothelioma patients achieved remission with chemotherapy and surgery in a Lung Cancer study.
Peritoneal mesothelioma: This cancer affects the lining of the abdomen and is easier to treat than pleural mesothelioma. A Surgical Oncology & Clinical Practice Journal study found that 12% of patients achieve complete remission.
These studies are reporting on the averages, but you are not a statistic. Mesothelioma remission may be possible in your case. Even if it’s not, you could still live longer than expected with treatment.
Download our 14 Questions to Ask Your Doctor Checklist now so you can get answers from your mesothelioma specialist about top treatments and remission.
Mesothelioma remission is never guaranteed. That said, factors like your health outside of having cancer, which treatments you receive, and more could make remission more likely.
The following factors impact your odds of mesothelioma remission:
Treatment: This is the best way to work toward remission since doctors may be able to remove or destroy mesothelioma tumors and cells.
Overall health: If you are otherwise healthy, you may qualify for more aggressive treatments.
Second opinion: With a second opinion, another doctor can determine whether you were properly diagnosed and if you qualify for treatments that may lead to remission.
Stage: There are several stages of mesothelioma based on how far it has spread. Early-stage cancer is easier to treat and has a better chance of remission.
Type of cells: Mesothelioma tumors are made up of different types of cancer cells. Some mesothelioma cells respond better to treatment than others.
Your doctors can help you understand how these factors may affect your chances of achieving mesothelioma remission, particularly as your treatments move forward.
Why Does Mesothelioma Recurrence Happen?
Recurrence is common among mesothelioma patients, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS). While treatments can send the cancer into remission, cells may be left behind and grow back.
Moffitt Cancer Center notes that there isn’t a way to know if and when mesothelioma will recur. Getting follow-up screenings from your doctor and reporting new symptoms can help catch a recurrence.
Doctors may suggest maintenance therapy, treatment given while in remission to prevent recurrence. If mesothelioma recurs, you can get more treatment to improve your survival and even send it back into remission.
Get our Free Veterans Packet now for information on treatments that could be used to improve your survival following a mesothelioma recurrence.
How Mesothelioma Remission and Recurrence Affect Prognosis
Remission and recurrence play a big role in your mesothelioma prognosis, or health outlook. If your cancer goes into remission, you may have more time to live. You must get prompt treatment to have the most favorable prognosis if your mesothelioma recurs.
Mesothelioma Remission Prognosis
Your prognosis can greatly improve depending on how long your mesothelioma remission lasts. While the average mesothelioma life expectancy is 12-21 months, patients in remission sometimes live for much longer.
In a recent Annals of Oncology article, a mesothelioma patient achieved remission for 27 years before her cancer returned. Several other patients have lived for over 15 years in remission or with stable disease.
Mesothelioma Recurrence Prognosis
The prognosis for recurrent mesothelioma depends on how far it has spread at the time of diagnosis, the treatments that can be used, and other factors.
Recurrent pleural mesothelioma has an average life expectancy of 12 months and a 3-year survival rate of 34%. Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma patients who experience recurrence live for 54 months on average and have a 3-year survival rate of 64%.
“The risk of recurrence with mesothelioma can extend out for many, many years after initial treatment. And I've had people go for 10 or 15 years with no evidence of any disease in their bodies. And then the disease recurs, and we need to come up with another plan of treatment.”
— Dr. Richard Alexander, mesothelioma specialist
Mesothelioma Survivors in Remission
Many civilians and U.S. veterans with mesothelioma achieved long-term remission and became survivors. Hear from just a few of these patients below to get hope after a mesothelioma diagnosis.
After serving in the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force, Art Putt was exposed to asbestos while working as a civilian mechanic. Given a year or less to live, Art is still alive more than 7 years later thanks to treatments and diet changes.
Mary Jane WilliamsDiagnosed in 2003
Mary Jane was diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma in 2003 and lived the rest of her life cancer-free following treatment. She passed away 15 years later without experiencing a mesothelioma recurrence.
U.S. Army veteran Ernie received a mesothelioma diagnosis in 2002 after complaining about pain in his shoulder and rib cage. He lived for 7 years with the cancer thanks to several treatments, including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation.
Get Help Reaching Mesothelioma Remission
Civilians and veterans with mesothelioma may be able to achieve remission in some cases, giving them precious time with loved ones and friends. The best way to work toward remission is to get treatment from experienced mesothelioma doctors.
The Mesothelioma Veterans Center can help you find the best specialists and treatments near you, giving you peace of mind in the face of this rare cancer. We can also assist you with affording medical care and any other expenses that come after a diagnosis.
Yes, mesothelioma may go into remission in some cases. You can work toward mesothelioma remission by getting treatments from doctors at top cancer centers. Mesothelioma doctors may be able to remove or destroy much or all of the cancer so you can live longer with fewer symptoms.
Has anyone ever been cured of mesothelioma?
While there is not yet a cure for mesothelioma, your cancer could disappear completely with treatments. When this happens, you’re considered to be in remission and you can potentially longer. In rare cases, patients have lived for 20 years or more in mesothelioma remission.
“Using the proper words are important so patients don't get the false perception that we were trying to cure their mesothelioma,” says mesothelioma specialist Dr. Raja Flores. “We're trying to prolong their survival.”
Call (877) 450-8973 for help finding top mesothelioma treatments that could potentially send your cancer into remission and allow you to live longer.
Can stage 4 mesothelioma go into remission?
Yes. Though stage 4 mesothelioma is very advanced and has spread through the body, it’s still possible to achieve remission depending on how the cancer responds to treatment.
A stage 4 mesothelioma patient was in remission for 8 years thanks to a therapy called tumor-treating fields (TTFields), which uses electrical pads to stop cancer from growing, and chemotherapy in a 2025 report.
Even if remission isn’t possible, patients may live much longer than expected with stage 4 cancer. John Stahl is still alive after his stage 4 diagnosis in 2019 thanks to chemotherapy. “We can’t change the outcome,” John says. “But we’re enjoying the ride.”
What happens when mesothelioma comes back?
When mesothelioma comes back (recurs) following remission, you can explore treatment options to prevent the cancer from progressing further. Additional treatments could allow you to achieve remission or stabilize your cancer, helping you to live longer.
How long does mesothelioma remission last?
The remission of mesothelioma is different for every patient. In rare cases, patients may be in remission for decades or the rest of their lives. Some may experience partial remission for several months or years.
It’s hard for doctors to predict how long mesothelioma remission will last. Regular follow-up tests after treatment are key since they allow doctors to see if the cancer has started to come back.
Double Board-Certified Oncologist and Hematologist
Fact-Checked
Editor
Todd Gersten, MD, is a double board-certified medical oncologist and hematologist specializing in general adult oncology and hematologic disease. He is a physician partner with the Florida Cancer Specialists and practices in Wellington, Florida.
Dr. Todd Gersten is an independently paid medical reviewer.
Christopher Dryfoos is a journalist and member of the American Medical Writers Association (AMWA). As the grandson of the U.S. Navy’s first forensic pathologist, he aims to help veterans with mesothelioma access needed care.
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