Approximately 2000 new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed in the U.S. each year according to the National Cancer Institute. Internationally, the incidence is approximately 9 cases per every 1 million people. In the Fall of 2004, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control reported a surge in deaths related to asbestos exposure. Even though the use of asbestos has taken a dive over the last several decades, the number of asbestos related deaths are rising.
This death rate is expected to continue to rise for at least the next decade, according to statistics developed in a report from the CDC. Asbestosis can cause fibrous growths of scar tissue in the lung, and ultimately lead to the inability to breath. Deaths from asbestosis increased from a record 77 in 1986 to 1,493 in 2000. This disease, which is characterized by shortness of breath and constant cough and is linked to the higher risk of malignant mesothelioma, now causes more occupational related deaths than silicosis and black lung disease.
The Center for Disease Control indicated that the death toll may continue to rise, despite the reduced use of asbestos, because there is a long time lag between initial exposure to asbestos, the development of asbestosis and death. This time lapse can be as long as 45 years. In 1998, asbestosis overtook black lung disease as the top killer among work-related respiratory diseases. This is partially due to the decline in coal mining and to the incubation period of asbestos exposure now reaching its peak among asbestos workers.
Median survival time after diagnosis for patients with malignant mesothelioma is 11 months. It is almost always fatal. The survival rate depends on the type of mesothelioma. Sarcomatoid is the most aggressive with a median survival rate of approximately 9.4 months. Epithelioid and biphasic have somewhat longer survival rates at 12.5 and 11 months, respectively.
Mesothelioma has no biases to race or gender, as asbestos exposure is thought to be the most important risk factor, which is directly linked to at least 50% of the cases.
Approximately eight million people in the United States have been exposed to asbestos in the workplace. Poeple who have been exposed through residual asbestos dust from work clothing are also at risk. The risk of developing cancer of the lung is five times greater for those exposed to asbestos. For those who smoke and have been exposured to asbestos, the chance of developing mesothelioma is 55 times greater than normal.
Studies show that mesothelioma is 3 times more common in men than women, but this is thought to be due to asbestos exposure and not gender. Of men with mesothelioma, a study indicated that 45% had a history of exposure to asbestos and 53% had occupational exposure to asbestos. Most of the men were railroad workers, construction workers, naval mechanics or automobile mechanics. Malignant mesothelioma has a peak occurrence of about 40 years after asbestos exposure, and it commonly develops when a person is between 50 and 70 years of age.
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