Malignant mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer that occurs in the thin layer of cells lining the body’s internal organs, known as the mesothelium. There are three recognized types of mesothelioma. Pleural mesothelioma is the most common form of the disease, accounting for roughly 70% of cases, and occurs in the lining of the lung known as the pleura. Peritoneal mesothelioma occurs in the lining of the abdominal cavity, known as the peritoneum and pericardial mesothelioma originates in the pericardium, which lines the heart.
An individual may be at risk to develop mesothelioma if he or she was exposed to asbestos in the workplace or at home. Mesothelioma is caused by exposure to asbestos and the inhalation of asbestos particles. In most cases, mesothelioma symptoms will not appear in an individual exposed to asbestos until many years after the exposure has occurred. Those with a past asbestos exposure history experiencing symptoms should consult a physician with experience in accurately diagnosing mesothelioma. The earlier mesothelioma is diagnosed, the more likely it is to be caught at an early stage. At earlier stages of mesothelioma progression, more treatment options are available and oftentimes a better prognosis is given. Additional mesothelioma information and statistics can be found in this section.
Mesothelioma Information
As with any disease or health condition, mesothelioma researchers have, over time, collected statistical information about mesothelioma. These statistics can help us learn about the proclivities of the disease and its incidence and potentially help future patients as we learn more about mesothelioma.
How Common is Mesothelioma?
New cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed in between 2,500 and 3,000 Americans each year. These numbers, while significant, would indicate that mesothelioma is still a relatively rare disease, though incidence is expected to rise in the next decade according to projections.
What is the Typical Age at Diagnosis?
The first diagnosis of mesothelioma typically occurs in men and women between the ages of 50 and 70 years. Mesothelioma patients, certainly, have been diagnosed at ages younger than 50 and older than 70, but diagnoses for those age groups are considered statistical anomalies.
Does Mesothelioma Occur in a Particular Sex or Racial Demographic More than Another?
Mesothelioma is much more common in men than women, due mostly to occupational asbestos exposure being more common among men of industrial labor sites. That is not to say, however, that women cannot be diagnosed with mesothelioma. In fact, recent evidence suggests that mesothelioma incidence in women may rise in the coming years as secondary exposures to asbestos can manifest in the form of a positive mesothelioma diagnosis. Also of note is that mesothelioma is much less common among African Americans than in Caucasians, the reasons for which researchers are still investigating.
What are Typical Patient Survival Rates Following a Mesothelioma Diagnosis?
As mesothelioma is often diagnosed in its advanced stages, the mesothelioma prognosis is sometimes poor with life expectancy being little more than a year following diagnosis. If diagnosed early enough however, patient prognoses increase dramatically. Patient survival rates are often contingent on the treatments available to the particular patient. In early mesothelioma stages, tumors eligible for mesothelioma surgery and will result in improved prognoses over those who are diagnosed with stage 3 mesothelioma or stage 4 mesothelioma. As new and alternative mesothelioma treatments are researched and employed in the future, it is realistic to anticipate an improvement in patient survival rates.