A prognosis can be made by a physician or healthcare professional based upon the disease or illness with which a patient has been diagnosed. This is where a patient is provided with information relating to how his or her disease or illness could take effect in the future. For instance, in cases where the patient is suffering from what could be a very serious disease, such as cancer, the prognosis could include the chances of the patient surviving, or could include the expected life expectancy of the patient based upon statistics.
Of course, it is important for patients to remember that a prognosis is a prediction that is based upon other facts and figures relating to the same illness or disease, and therefore, cannot be one hundred percent accurate. In some cases, patients may find that their prognosis is completely inaccurate; for instance the doctor may give the patient several months to live in the case of a serious illness, but that patient may go on and live for a year, two years, or beyond.
A prognosis may not always be totally accurate, but it is important in deciding on the best course of action with regards to treatment for a patient. Based on the prognosis for a patient, a doctor can determine whether or not to continue with a particular treatment, or whether to concentrate his or her efforts on simply making the patient more comfortable.
The short-term prognosis is described as the probable outcome of a disease, and in terms of those suffering from a disease, such as the asbestos related cancer known as mesothelioma, this would mean factors such as the patient’s life expectancy and survival chances, which may then help to determine the most effective course of action with regards to treatment.
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