Mesothelioma remission occurs when tumors shrink or disappear after treatment, which can help ease symptoms and improve survival. However, there’s always the chance that you could experience mesothelioma recurrence, which is when cancer comes back after getting treated. Medical care from doctors can help you work toward mesothelioma remission and fight the cancer if it recurs.
Yes, malignant mesothelioma can go into remission following aggressive treatments to remove or destroy cancer cells and tumors.
Remission may improve your mesothelioma prognosis (health outlook) significantly. Some patients have lived for 15 years or more because their mesothelioma went into remission.
Get our Free Veterans Packet now to learn how you or a U.S. veteran you love can work toward mesothelioma remission with proper medical care.
Mesothelioma is an aggressive form of cancer, and even if you’re in remission, there’s a chance it could return. This is known as mesothelioma recurrence or relapse.
Your doctors will recommend follow-up visits while you’re in remission. If they find any signs of recurrence, they can suggest treatments to help you live as long as possible.
“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, 10+ year mesothelioma survivor in remission
Types of Mesothelioma Remission
Mesothelioma can go into complete or partial remission. It may also become stable, meaning the tumors are still present but not growing.
Complete Mesothelioma Remission
In complete or full mesothelioma remission, there is no evidence of disease (NED) in your body.
Mary Jane, a peritoneal mesothelioma patient, achieved complete remission following surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. Her cancer never came back, and she passed away 15 years later from an unrelated illness.
Partial Mesothelioma Remission
Partial mesothelioma remission occurs when cancer tumors shrink but don’t fully go away. You may live for a long time if your cancer is in partial remission.
Nearly 50% of pleural mesothelioma patients treated with immunotherapy achieved partial remission in a 2023 study. All of the patients had experienced a recurrence before receiving immunotherapy treatments.
Stable Disease
You may have stable disease if your mesothelioma tumors stop growing but don’t shrink following treatment. While stable disease does not mean you are cancer-free, long-term survivorship is possible once tumor growth has halted.
Julie, a peritoneal mesothelioma patient, has lived for more than 18 years with stable mesothelioma following multiple aggressive treatments.
Call (877) 450-8973 now for help finding treatments that may send your mesothelioma into remission or stop it from growing.
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. Learn about the top treatment options below.
Surgery
Mesothelioma surgery allows doctors to remove cancerous tumors. You may be in complete remission after surgery if all of the tumors can be taken out.
Cytoreduction with HIPEC: This treats peritoneal mesothelioma. Doctors surgically remove tumors from the abdomen lining (peritoneum) and then use heated chemotherapy (HIPEC) to kill microscopic cancer cells left behind.
Extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP): Used to treat malignant pleural mesothelioma, doctors remove tumors, the lining of the lungs (pleura), and the lung closest to the cancer.
Pleurectomy with decortication (P/D): Also used for pleural mesothelioma, this surgery removes the pleura and cancer tumors. Neither lung is removed.
Studies have shown that all three of these surgeries can help cancer patients achieve remission and improve survival. Which surgery is right for you, if any, depends on your type of mesothelioma, how far it’s spread, and your overall health.
Other Mesothelioma Treatments
In addition to surgery, other treatments like chemotherapy can shrink tumors and possibly send your cancer into remission. Doctors can combine therapies in a multimodal treatment plan to destroy as much of the cancer as possible.
Additional treatments that can help you reach remission include:
Chemotherapy: These are cancer-killing medications. A recent Lung Cancer study reported that four mesothelioma patients achieved complete remission and lived for over 6 years with surgery and chemotherapy.
Immunotherapy: This boosts the immune system’s ability to fight cancer. A 2022 Clinical Colorectal Cancer study noted that a peritoneal mesothelioma patient was in almost complete remission after receiving immunotherapy.
Radiation: Radiation therapy uses energy beams to destroy cancer. A patient who received pain-relieving radiation and immunotherapy achieved complete remission in a 2021 Clinical and Translational Radiation Oncology case report.
Get a Free Veterans Packet now for more information on treatments that may be able to send your mesothelioma into remission.
Clinical trials test new treatments that may help patients work toward mesothelioma remission or live longer.
New mesothelioma treatments being studied include:
Gene therapy: This targets genetic changes that make it easier for mesothelioma cells to survive. In a 2021 study, nearly 80% of mesothelioma patients with gene mutations achieved stable disease thanks to a drug called olaparib.
Targeted therapy: This attacks cancer cells without hurting healthy ones. In a 2021 study, mesothelioma patients who received the targeted therapy drug rucaparib achieved either full remission, partial remission, or stable disease.
Vaccine therapy: This is a specific 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.
Ask your mesothelioma specialist about joining a clinical trial if your cancer doesn’t respond to standard treatments.
Mesothelioma Remission Rates
The mesothelioma remission rate is fairly low since this cancer isn’t usually diagnosed until after it has spread to other parts of the body, limiting treatment options.
Here are the remission rates by mesothelioma type:
Pleural mesothelioma: Roughly 7% of pleural mesothelioma patients achieved remission when treated with chemotherapy and surgery in a study published by Lung Cancer.
Peritoneal mesothelioma: An analysis from the Surgical Oncology & Clinical Practice Journal found that 12% of patients fully achieve remission.
Remember that these studies only report averages. With treatment, your cancer may go into remission.
“Don’t let the cancer bog you down. Someday, it might bog you down, but my God, if you are still moving, keep moving. Take the life that you have going for yourself and make use of it.”
– Ernie, U.S. Army veteran with mesothelioma
Download our 14 Questions to Ask Your Doctor Checklist now so you can get answers from your mesothelioma specialist about top treatments and remission.
While mesothelioma remission is never guaranteed, certain factors in each case can increase or decrease one's chances of entering remission.
These factors include:
Treatment
This is the best way to work toward remission since doctors may be able to remove or destroy mesothelioma tumors and cells.
Good 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 consist of different types of cells, some of which respond better to treatment than others.
Your doctors can help you understand how likely or not likely mesothelioma remission is in your case.
What Is Mesothelioma Recurrence?
Mesothelioma recurrence happens when cancer tumors grow back after you’ve already received treatment. Recurrence is very common among mesothelioma patients, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS).
If your mesothelioma recurs, you may be able to get treatments to potentially send it back into remission so you can live longer.
How Does Mesothelioma Recurrence Occur?
Mesothelioma can recur because even one cell left behind after treatment can divide and begin to spread throughout the body. Mesothelioma cancer cells can also become resistant to treatments like chemotherapy over time.
Did you know?
Moffitt Cancer Center notes that there isn’t a way to predict whether your mesothelioma will recur. Getting regular follow-up screenings from your doctor and promptly reporting any new symptoms can help catch a recurrence.
Doctors may also suggest maintenance therapy, which is cancer treatment given when you are in remission to prevent recurrence. A common form of maintenance therapy is a low dose of chemotherapy.
Treating Mesothelioma Recurrence
It still may be possible for you to get treated and live longer if you experience a mesothelioma recurrence.
“Mesotheliomas often come back after the initial treatment. If this happens, further treatment options depend on where the cancer is, what treatments have already been used, and a person’s overall health.”
– American Cancer Society (ACS)
Get our Free Veterans Packet now for information on mesothelioma treatments that could be used to improve your survival following a recurrence.
Remission and recurrence play a big role in your mesothelioma prognosis.
If your cancer goes into remission, you may have more time to live. You must get prompt treatments to have the most favorable prognosis if your mesothelioma recurs.
How Remission Impacts Mesothelioma 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.
Remission can last for decades in rare cases. In a 2021 Annals of Oncology article, a peritoneal mesothelioma patient achieved remission for 27 years before her cancer returned.
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.
Find prognosis information for recurrent mesothelioma patients who receive treatment below.
Mesothelioma Type
Life Expectancy
3-Year Survival Rate
Pleural mesothelioma
12 months
34%
Peritoneal mesothelioma
54 months
61%
You could even live longer than the life expectancy or survival rate figures depending on how your mesothelioma responds to the treatment plan used.
Call (877) 450-8973 now to get help finding doctors and treatments for recurrent mesothelioma.
After serving in the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force, Art Putt was exposed to asbestos while working as a civilian mechanic. Originally given a year or less to live, Art is thriving today.
Mary Jane WilliamsDiagnosed in 2003
Mary Jane was diagnosed with malignant peritoneal mesothelioma in 2003 and lived the rest of her life cancer-free following treatment. She passed away 15 years later without the cancer returning.
Ernie ConryDiagnosed in 2002
U.S. Army veteran Ernie received a pleural mesothelioma diagnosis in 2002 after complaining about pain in his shoulder and rib cage. He lived for seven years with the cancer — much longer than expected.
These survivor stories show that remission may be possible, even if your initial prognosis is poor.
We Can Help You Work Toward 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.
Here are 4 tips we recommend to pursue mesothelioma remission:
Connect with our team to find top local doctors and cancer centers
Receive mesothelioma treatments as recommended by your care team
Attend regular follow-up visits to monitor for recurrence
Even if remission isn’t possible, medical care may be able to help you live longer and ease symptoms.
Call (877) 450-8973 now for help finding doctors and treatments that can give you the best chance of achieving mesothelioma remission.
Mesothelioma Remission and Recurrence FAQs
Has anyone recovered from mesothelioma?
Yes, some people have recovered from mesothelioma. Treatments can send mesothelioma into remission for long periods of time, allowing some patients to be free from signs or symptoms of the disease.
Though not every mesothelioma patient will recover or achieve remission, treatments give many a fighting chance to live longer.
Does mesothelioma go into remission?
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.
While there isn’t a cure for mesothelioma at this time, some patients may go into complete remission with no evidence of disease (NED) after treatment.
While there is always a chance that mesothelioma could recur, some patients have lived for 15 years or more in remission.
Can stage 4 mesothelioma go into remission?
Yes. Though rare, it’s possible that stage 4 mesothelioma could go into remission with treatment. Stage 4 mesothelioma tumors could also become stable, meaning they aren’t growing.
John, a pleural mesothelioma patient, was diagnosed with stage 4 mesothelioma in 2019. Thanks to chemotherapy, he has survived for 4+ years and has resumed an active lifestyle.
What happens when mesothelioma comes back?
When mesothelioma comes back (recurs) following remission, you will need to explore your treatment options to prevent the cancer from progressing further.
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 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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Yes, malignant mesothelioma can go into remission following aggressive treatments to remove or destroy cancer cells and tumors.
