Mesothelioma Statistics

Mesothelioma statistics provide a wealth of information about mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a serious cancer that is diagnosed in two to three thousand new patients every year. Mesothelioma can have a long latency period from ten to fifty years, during which symptoms may be completely absent; therefore mesothelioma statistics may not accurately reflect the number of people who develop this disease each year.

More Common In Men

Men are more likely to develop mesothelioma because they are more likely to be exposed to asbestos. Mesothelioma statistics show that the average age of diagnosis is between fifty and seventy years of age, however the number of people diagnosed between the ages of thirty and forty is increasing, which might indicate that people can also suffer secondary exposure to asbestos that can lead to mesothelioma.

Asbestos, The Cause of Mesothelioma 

Mesothelioma is almost exclusively caused by exposure to asbestos. Seventy to eighty percent of all cases of mesothelioma have been proven to be the direct result of asbestos exposure. Over 30 million tons of asbestos have been mined in the last hundred years. Asbestos is used to make more than 5000 products worldwide. Mesothelioma statistics revealed the harmful and deadly effects of asbestos exposure over sixty years ago, though it is still used in various industries and is still present in many buildings throughout the world.

Over 1.3 million people in the construction industry are exposed to asbestos in their environment each year. People in other industries such as the railroad, factory, automobile, and shipyard industries are also at risk. People who have been exposed to asbestos are seven times more likely to develop mesothelioma cancer than those with no exposure.

A Devastating Cancer

Mesothelioma statistics are grim with regards to the prognosis that often comes with diagnosis. People who are diagnosed with mesothelioma have an average survival rate of one year. If cancer is found early and aggressively treated, a patient may have an extended survival rate of between two and five years. There is no cure for mesothelioma and substantial treatment is often difficult to accomplish. Even when treatment is possible it can be quite expensive, costing between $400 and $800 thousand dollars for oxygen, drugs, pain medicines and other treatment measures.

Nationwide, between 43,000 and 230,000 people have died as a result of asbestos related cancer, according to mesothelioma statistics. One source who studies mesothelioma statistics estimated that ten million lives may be lost worldwide as a result of asbestos cancer before asbestos is banned from the world market.

Mesothelioma statistics reveal the harsh reality of asbestos exposure consequences. If you have been the victim of mesothelioma, you may be eligible to seek compensation for your suffering. For more information on mesothelioma statistics, Contact a Mesothelioma Attorney familiar with mesothelioma compensation.