Mesothelioma Statistics
Mesothelioma statistics are calculated studies of the incidences or prevalence rates against the population to check the number of people are suffering from this malignant cancer. Mesothelioma statistics are very important as they point out how in very clear terms the number of people suffering from this disease as well as they rate of increase or decrease in its spread.
Statistics are a very subtle and sure way to compare and analyze the data figuratively and help the government in determining how many patients need help.
We have collected mesothelioma statistics by industry and occupation. Most of the people who suffer from mesothelioma are the ones who worked in asbestos industry or who came in contact with asbestos by any means. These articles focus on the places where asbestos exposure takes place, and also provide the number of deaths in each category by percent.
Mesothelioma is fairly rare. There are an estimated 2,000 to 3,000 new cases of mesothelioma each year in the United States. The incidence of mesotheliomas in the United States increased from 1970 to 1990 and then stabilized. It may now be decreasing. Most of the past increase in cases, as well as the recent decrease in cases, has been in men. The rate, although lower, has been fairly steady for women. In European countries and world wide, the rate of mesotheliomas is still increasing.
Mesothelioma is rare in people under age 55. Its incidence increases with age. Three-fourths of people with mesothelioma are over 65 years old. The disease affects men 5 times more often than women. Mesothelioma is less common in African Americans than in white Americans. (see Deaths by sex, race, and age)
Mesothelioma is a serious disease. The only known cause of mesothelioma is asbestos. By the time the symptoms appear and cancer is diagnosed, the disease is often advanced. The average survival time is about 1 year. The 5-year relative survival rate is around 10%, but this rate has been slowly improving.
The 5-year survival rate refers to the percentage of patients who live at least 5 years after their cancer is diagnosed. Many of these patients live much longer than 5 years after diagnosis, and 5-year rates are used to produce a standard way of discussing prognosis. Five-year relative survival rates do not include patients dying of other diseases and are considered to be a more accurate way to describe the prognosis for patients with a particular type and stage of cancer.
That means that relative survival only talks about deaths from mesothelioma. Of course, 5-year survival rates are based on patients diagnosed and initially treated more than 5 years ago. They may no longer be accurate. Improvements in treatment result in a more favorable outlook for recently diagnosed patients. Those who live at least five years after their cancer is diagnosed have a good chance to continue living a productive life for many additional years. As treatment therapies continue to advance for mesothelioma, we can expect survival rates to continue to improve as well for those recently diagnosed.
