Malignant mesothelioma statistics are important to understand regarding the complexities of this rare cancer. The more education one receives can help improve your health and spread awareness related to mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma is a rare and deadly malignant tumor caused by inhaled asbestos particles that become lodged in the lining of the lungs, heart, stomach, and other vital organs. It can take decades for symptoms to develop, and by then, the five-year prognosis is around 10%.
Incidence and Demographics in the U.S
- Mesothelioma accounts for 0.3% of all cancer cases in the United States.
- At least 3,000 cases of malignant mesothelioma are reported each year.
- There are around 2,500 deaths linked to malignant mesothelioma.
- Most cases of mesothelioma occur in older men who have worked in a variety of heavy industries like naval shipbuilding, miners, and industrial product manufacturing.
There are four types of mesothelioma, which include pleural, peritoneal, pericardial, and testicular mesothelioma cases. 75% of all cases are pleural mesothelioma cases.
- For all people who experience heavy, prolonged exposure to asbestos particulates, 2% to 10% develop some stage of pleural mesothelioma.
The number of mesothelioma-related diagnoses is no longer increasing in the U.S., compared to previous decades.
Who Is Most at Risk?
Malignant mesothelioma can be detected in anyone, regardless of age and gender. Malignant mesothelioma cancer is common in older populations, and primarily among men who have worked in heavy industries.
- 91% of all mesothelioma cases occur in patients who are aged 55 years or older.
- An average mesothelioma patient is a man of 65 years with a background in blue-collar or military professional backgrounds.
- 75 %of all mesothelioma deaths are men.
Because men are exposed to asbestos more often, these individuals are 4.6 times more likely to be diagnosed with mesothelioma cancer.
- 90% of all cases are white. Hispanics are diagnosed more frequently than other people of color.
Latency Period facts
Mesothelioma is aggressive and deadly. It’s a very serious cancer which currently has no possible cure. This cancer can take decades to develop after continuous and prolonged asbestos exposure.
- Mesothelioma caused by asbestos exposure takes at least 20 to 50 years to develop.
- Latency periods of less than 15 years are very rare.
- Some of the longest cases to develop have had a latency period from 60 to 70 years.
Common symptoms that develop over these periods include persistent coughing and difficulty breathing, which can become nagging and potentially debilitating.
Mesothelioma Statistics by Occupation?
The majority of cases of malignant mesothelioma are among men who worked in occupations with high rates of asbestos exposure. People who worked in some of the following occupations have been subject to asbestos exposure and could develop malignant mesothelioma cancer:
- Firefighting
- Construction
- Carpenters
- Cement Plants
- Manufacturing
- Chemical plants
- Power generation
- Shipyard Workers
- Certain military service
- Asbestos miners
- Electricians
- Plumbers
- Pipefitters
- Insulators
- Demolition workers
- Auto mechanics
- Home remodelers
A study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported a total of 45,221 deaths attributed to malignant mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma Statistics by Location?
Mesothelioma is extremely high in U.S. states dominated by the shipbuilding industry and the military.
- Washington, Alaska, West Virginia, New Jersey, and Maine have the highest incidence rates of malignant mesothelioma in the United States.
- The states with the highest total number of mesothelioma cases are California, Texas, Florida, Pennsylvania, and New York
Survival Rate and Mortality?
Mesothelioma is an extremely rare cancer, with only a few doctors having experience diagnosing and treating it. For this matter, it is incumbent upon patients and their families to educate themselves on the survivability and mortality of malignant mesothelioma.
- During the time frame from 1999 to 2015, a total of 45,221 people died from mesothelioma in the United States.
- According to this data set, 80% of those deaths were among men.
- People aged over 75 years made up 37% of those deaths.
The stage of mesothelioma cancer often plays a crucial role in determining survivability.
- Stage I mesothelioma is a rare and early diagnosis. The tumor remains local and is still developing, meaning that the overall survivability at this stage is 20 months.
- Stage II mesothelioma is a more advanced development of the tumor that has invaded tissues like the diaphragm and the lung and pleural cavity. 20 months is the average rate of survivability at this stage.
- Stage III mesothelioma develops into the lymph nodes or other crucial symptoms. The life expectancy is 17.9 months.
- Stage IV mesothelioma is the most advanced stage. Life expectancy in this stage is 14.9 months.
The survivability rate can be improved through treatment, medication, and lifestyle support.
Treatment and benefit studies?
Treatment for mesothelioma may include surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, like many other cancers. Supportive and immune system-boosting treatments can help improve prognosis and survivability. Palliative care regimens also promote health
Mesothelioma Medical Costs?
According to the latest research into mesothelioma medical costs, the treatment of the cancer is quite expensive.
- The average cost of mesothelioma treatment per month — including medication, surgery, and radiation — can average between $11,000 and $12,000 per month.
- The cost per medical visit can average $24,901.
- A stage I lung cancer patient, including a malignant mesothelioma diagnosis, can average around $26,000 per month in monthly surgery costs.
- Radiation costs for cancer patients could cost $9,000 per first course of treatment, per Medicare expenses calculated in a 2015 study on radiation treatment costs.
Many of these estimations are based on costs that are covered by insurance and out-of-pocket costs. These out-of-pocket costs are a small fraction of the overall costs.
United States Facts
The United States has at least 3,000 total cases of malignant mesothelioma and at least 2,500 deaths linked to this cancer, per year.
- Mesothelioma remains an extremely rare occurrence in the U.S.
- 2 to 10 % of all cases of prolonged asbestos exposure result in a mesothelioma diagnosis, including in states where asbestos exposure is disproportionately high.
- Overall cases of mesothelioma in the U.S. are on the decline and have been for years. Cases in the U.S. increased throughout the 1990s, but soon leveled out and declined.
Asbestos isn’t only banned by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The agency, with the backing of Congress, managed to implement a ban on asbestos in the early 1990s. However, asbestos is still tightly regulated at the local, state, and federal levels. State legislatures have acted free from Congress and the executive branch to ban the use of asbestos in consumer products and construction materials.
Global Mesothelioma Statistics
All over the world, 125 million people in the world have been exposed to asbestos in their professional work capacities. Data from the World Health Organization notes that, in 2004, asbestos-related lung cancer, malignant mesothelioma, and asbestosis resulted in 107,000 deaths. Thousands more deaths can also be attributed to other asbestos-related diseases, including nonoccupational second-hand exposure to asbestos.
The information cited by Mesowatch.com are from reputable sources and peer-reviewed academic work, including the review of a medical expert and a variety of editors to ensure accuracy.
