Mesothelioma Statistics

Who Gets Mesothelioma? 

Men over 65 who worked in jobs like construction, firefighting, or the military are at the highest risk. Long-term asbestos exposure is the leading cause of mesothelioma. The highest incidence rates occur in regions with histories of industrial and asbestos-heavy industries. Due to asbestos regulations, new cases have slightly declined over the past decade. 

Even family members of workers exposed to asbestos can get it from secondary exposure. Secondary exposure is the most common way women are exposed to asbestos, affecting about 44% of women compared to 3% of men.

Asbestos workers with years of exposure have an 8% to 13% risk of developing mesothelioma. Most mesothelioma cases are found in the manufacturing (22%) and construction (13.5%) industries, with 18.8% occurring in construction and extraction occupations.

Mesothelioma Statistics by Race/Ethnicity

Mesothelioma incidence rates describe the risk of developing mesothelioma cancer. Most mesothelioma patients are non-Hispanic white, with 84% of cases in 2020. Only about 8% of cases occur in Hispanic people and 5% in the Black population. 

Black and Asian Americans are less likely to be employed in asbestos-related occupations, such as building and ship construction, insulation and mining. Historically, fewer Black people have served in the U.S. Navy, which has been a significant source of asbestos exposure for men.

Mesothelioma Statistics by Age

CDC data from 2022 shows 31% of people get mesothelioma after age 80. Meanwhile, 20% of people get the disease between the ages of 75-79. About 4% of cases are among people between the ages of 35-49.

The latency period is generally shorter for peritoneal mesothelioma than for pleural mesothelioma. Most people diagnosed with peritoneal and pleural mesothelioma are about 51 and 67 years old, respectively.

Mesothelioma Statistics by Gender

Men are more than 2.4 times more likely to develop mesothelioma than women, making up 71% of all cases in 2020, with women accounting for 29%. The higher risk for men is likely due to their occupational exposure in industries where asbestos was prevalent. 

In 2020, out of 2,681 diagnosed cases of mesothelioma, 1,900 were men, and 781 were women. Women tend to have better survival rates than men. For example, the 5-year survival rate for women with pleural mesothelioma is about 16%, while for men, it’s around 7%.

Mesothelioma Statistics Across the US

California, Pennsylvania, Texas, New York and Ohio had the highest mesothelioma-related mortalities between 2016 and 2020. Higher rates of exposure and disease exist in areas with a strong history of industrial work and manufacturing.

Delaware’s mortality rate during this period was 1.2 per 100,000 people. Maine’s was 1.1 per 100,000 and Alaska’s was 1.0 per 100,000. Puerto Rico, however, had a mortality rate of 0.1 per 100,000, and Georgia and Alaska had rates of 0.4 per 100,000.

How Long Does Mesothelioma Take to Develop?

Mesothelioma starts to develop 20 to 60 years after asbestos exposure. The latency period is the gap between first exposure and the appearance of symptoms. Because of the long latency period, it’s uncommon for people to receive a mesothelioma diagnosis before turning 50.

According to an exclusive survey conducted by The Mesothelioma Center at Asbestos.com in 2023, only 9% of approximately 220 mesothelioma patients were diagnosed before age 50.

Mesothelioma Latency Period by Gender

Women tend to have a more extended latency period than men because they are often exposed to lower levels of asbestos. For pleural mesothelioma, the latency period is 30-60 years. For peritoneal mesothelioma, it is 20-40 years.

Men’s high levels of occupational asbestos exposure likely result in a shorter latency period of 47.9 years. Women typically face lower and shorter secondhand exposure, leading to a longer latency of 53.3 years. Mesothelioma type may also affect development time.

Average Latency Periods by Mesothelioma Type

The average latency period for pleural mesothelioma, which affects the lining of the lungs, is between 30 and 60 years. In contrast, peritoneal mesothelioma, which affects the lining of the abdominal cavity, has an average latency period of 20 to 40 years.

The average latency period of mesothelioma varies depending on the type and location of the tumors in the body. Researchers haven’t yet determined why these differences exist.

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Mesothelioma Statistics by Tumor Location

Most mesothelioma cancer cases occur in the pleura, the tissue surrounding the lungs. Pleural mesothelioma is the most common type because asbestos usually enters the body through the lungs.

An exclusive survey conducted by The Mesothelioma Center at Asbestos.com in 2023 collected diagnosis data on 220 mesothelioma patients. Approximately 73% had pleural, 23% had peritoneal, 1% had testicular and 3% were unsure. 

About 20% of malignant mesothelioma cases appear in the peritoneum, the lining of the abdomen. In 1% of cases, this cancer forms in the heart’s lining, the pericardium. Fewer than 1% of mesothelioma cases occur in the tunica vaginalis, the covering of the testes.

Mesothelioma symptoms vary by tumor location but commonly include fatigue, pain, fever, loss of appetite, effusions, and swelling. Regular screenings are vital for those with asbestos exposure to catch the disease early, improving survival through more treatment options.

Mesothelioma Survival and Mortality Rate Statistics

About 73% of patients with pleural mesothelioma survive 1 year, and 12% survive 5 years. For peritoneal mesothelioma, 92% survive 1 year, and 65% survive 5 years. For pericardial mesothelioma, 26% survive 1 year, and 9% survive 5 years.

Studies on survival outcomes show that early detection is the most significant predictor of longer survival times. The stage of mesothelioma at diagnosis affects prognosis. Early stages have longer survival times and more treatment options. As it progresses, treatment options decrease and the prognosis worsens.

Mesothelioma survival rates and death rate depend on the age and gender of the patient, the location of mesothelioma tumors and the stage of progression of tumor development.

Mesothelioma Mortality Rates

Between 1999 and 2020, there were 54,905 deaths from mesothelioma in the U.S. The death rate for mesothelioma is close to the incidence rate, which is about 1 case per 100,000 people. The rate is 0.2 per 100,000 for women and 0.6 per 100,000 for men.

Treatment options have a significant impact on survival. For example, according to Lung Cancer International, 50% of peritoneal patients who undergo aggressive treatment live longer than 5 years. Mesothelioma survivor Carla Fasolo was diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma in 2021 and credits chemotherapy and immunotherapy to her survival.

5-Year Survival Rates for Pleural Mesothelioma

The SEER Program tracks 5-year survival rates, which are the percentage of patients with pleural mesothelioma who live for 5 years or more. Based on tumor spread, SEER tracks this data in three stages: localized, regional and distant.

When compared to patients with distant tumors, those with localized tumors are more than twice as likely to live at least five years. These statistics underscore the importance of early detection.

5-Year Survival Rates for Peritoneal Mesothelioma

Researchers at Wake Forest University School of Medicine evaluated 380 mesothelioma patients and reported a 5-year survival rate of 65.3% for peritoneal mesothelioma. Because treatments are more effective, long-term survival may be better in these cases.

The SEER program doesn’t track or publish survival rate data for peritoneal mesothelioma, unlike the pleural type. This is likely because pleural mesothelioma cases far outnumber peritoneal cases, so data for the latter is less available or precise. 

Mesothelioma Survival Rates by Demographic

Survival among women diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma is higher compared to men. The 5-year survival rate for men with pleural mesothelioma is 7.3% compared to 16.4% for women.

Overall, younger mesothelioma patients have a significantly higher survival rate than older patients. More than 50% of patients diagnosed before the age of 50 survive one year, while less than 33% of those 75 or older survive the same length of time.

The 5-year survival rate also appears to vary between races. The most recent year for compiled data by race is 2015 when the reported 5-year survival rate was 18.6% for Black people and 9.4% for those who were white.

Mesothelioma Treatment Statistics

While mesothelioma is difficult to treat, advances in treatment approaches have shown significant promise for improving life expectancy for patients. Multimodal approaches that combine approaches, including traditional therapies with emerging treatments, have had significant results.

Mesothelioma treatment may involve surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. More than 60% of patients receive chemotherapy, the most common treatment for mesothelioma. Chemotherapy may triple the survival rate of mesothelioma patients, according to a study of SEER data.

Researchers are testing new drug regimens for those who don’t qualify for surgery. These trials often include drugs already used in lung cancer treatment.

Mesothelioma Clinical Trial Statistics

Human studies, called clinical trials, give patients access to the latest breakthroughs in treatment. Researchers have conducted more than 300 clinical trials for mesothelioma worldwide.

Patients may also enroll in clinical trials for emerging treatments such as immunotherapy. A recent study presented at the European Lung Cancer Congress showed that a combination of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation produced a 1-year survival rate of 79.6% for pleural mesothelioma patients.

An International Journal of Hyperthermia study also showed that the median disease-free survival was almost five years for peritoneal patients receiving surgery combined with heated chemotherapy, called HIPEC surgery. The median overall survival was more than eight years.

Mesothelioma Costs and Financial Statistics

National Cancer Institute statistics estimate the cost of lung cancer treatment to be more than $60,000 for the first year. Mesothelioma treatment costs are comparable, making treatment for mesothelioma not easily affordable for most families.

Mesothelioma expenses include medical bills, lost wages, travel costs and other losses. Some people qualify for financial aid, such as VA benefits and Social Security Disability Insurance. Patients can also file legal claims to help pay for their costs.

Some mesothelioma claims are filed with asbestos trust funds. Companies that used asbestos and declared bankruptcy set up these funds to help patients with asbestos-related diseases pay for their mesothelioma costs.

Additional Mesothelioma Information Resources

Additional cancer resources can provide more data and statistics. Local hospitals, cancer centers and nonprofit cancer organizations can also be helpful sources of statistical data.

The Patient Advocates at The Mesothelioma Center can also provide you with key resources and information about mesothelioma. Their experience working with mesothelioma survivors and their families, top mesothelioma specialists and cancer treatment centers around the country have provided them with a unique point of view, making the team a valuable resource for the mesothelioma community as well.

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