Mesothelioma Statistics
Mesothelioma is among the most catastrophic effects of asbestos exposure. If you or a loved one has received a mesothelioma diagnosis, it’s natural to have many questions about the disease. As nationwide leaders in mesothelioma litigation, The Gori Law Firm has compiled the latest mesothelioma statistics and facts to help you understand the impact of this disease on people’s lives. Get your free case review today.
Important Facts About Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive form of cancer that develops in the mesothelium—the protective lining covering many of the body’s internal organs. The only known cause of mesothelioma is asbestos exposure, a naturally occurring mineral widely used in numerous industries until the late 1970s.
- Mesothelioma forms in the tissue lining the lungs, the heart, the testicles, or the abdominal cavity. These conditions are known as pleural, pericardial, testicular, and peritoneal mesothelioma, respectively.
- There are three types of mesothelioma based on the type of cell affected: epithelial, sarcomatoid, and biphasic.
- Approximately 3,000 people are diagnosed with mesothelioma each year in the United States.
- The average age for mesothelioma diagnosis is 72.
- The mesothelioma incidence rate peaked between the 1970s and early 1990s, but many people still suffer from the disease.
- Mesothelioma has a latency period of 20 to 70 years, meaning symptoms may not appear until decades after asbestos exposure.
- The life expectancy for most mesothelioma patients is 4 to 18 months after diagnosis. Proper treatment and early detection can significantly improve this prognosis—some patients have lived 10 years or longer.
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Mesothelioma Cost and Compensation Statistics
The treatment and financial implications of mesothelioma are often staggering. The following statistics help put the financial burden into perspective:
- Diagnosing mesothelioma may require expensive procedures such as biopsies, with thoracoscopic pleural biopsies in the U.S. costing an average of $16,575.
- Each mesothelioma hospitalization in the U.S. costs an average of $25,566. Hospitalizations involving major procedures cost approximately $30,734.
- Common mesothelioma treatment costs range from $16,089 for pleural cavity drainage to $62,408 for pneumonectomy, which is the surgical removal of a lung.
- The estimated cost of chemotherapy for mesothelioma is $38,779. Patients receiving chemotherapy with bevacizumab face costs as high as $87,741.
- A course of radiation therapy costs roughly $9,000 for a typical mesothelioma patient.
- Hospice services for mesothelioma may cost as much as $57,811.
There are financial resources available to help offset these expenses. Mesothelioma patients and their families may seek compensation through asbestos trust funds, lawsuits against asbestos companies, VA claims, or workers’ compensation benefits. Monetary compensation for the medical expenses associated with mesothelioma often ranges from $100,000 to $900,000 or more with help from an experienced attorney.
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Mesothelioma Survival and Mortality Statistics
Mesothelioma is a highly fatal disease, with a five-year survival rate of just 10 percent. Patients typically survive for only four to 18 months after diagnosis, with the average patient surviving one year. While this is a sobering statistic, advancements in diagnosis and treatment have improved survival rates in recent years, and the numbers will likely continue to improve.
It is important to remember that mesothelioma asbestos statistics are averages and do not predict individual outcomes. Various factors can influence mesothelioma survival statistics, including the following:
- Age
- Gender
- General health
- Type of mesothelioma
- Location of the cancer
- The stage at which the cancer was diagnosed
- Extent of metastasis, if any
- Treatment options
Survival Rates by Type of Mesothelioma
The location of the cancer affects the available treatments and, therefore, the survival rates:
- Pleural mesothelioma: The most common type of mesothelioma has a five-year survival rate of around 12 percent.
- Peritoneal mesothelioma: Patients with this type of mesothelioma have fairly good survival odds, with a five-year survival rate of 65 percent.
- Pericardial mesothelioma: With fewer than 50 cases diagnosed per year in the U.S., this type of mesothelioma has limited treatment options and a five-year survival rate of just nine percent.
- Testicular mesothelioma: This type of mesothelioma is exceedingly rare, making survival rates more challenging to generalize.
Rate of Mesothelioma Survival by Stage
Survival rates also vary by the stage at which mesothelioma is diagnosed. Generally, the earlier the cancer is caught, the better the prognosis. The stages are as follows:
- Stages 1 and 2: The cancer is usually localized at these stages. That means aggressive treatment can often effectively target the tumor, possibly resulting in more promising survival odds.
- Stages 3 and 4: In these later stages, the cancer has spread to other body parts, making treatment more difficult and leading to lower survival rates.
Pleural mesothelioma sometimes uses a different staging system called Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results, or SEER. This system groups the cancer into the following three stages:
24 percent five-year survival rate
16 percent five-year survival rate
7 percent five-year survival rate
Age and Gender
Among male patients with localized pleural mesothelioma, those aged 30-49 have a 34 percent five-year survival rate compared to just 7 percent for those aged 50-79. Better general health in younger individuals can make a difference in recovery. They may be eligible for more effective therapies that are not an option for older patients.
Nearly 80 percent of mesothelioma deaths occur among men. This gender disparity is primarily due to occupational exposure being more prevalent in male-dominated industries, but women do face higher exposure rates from cosmetic products containing talc contaminated with asbestos.
Women are also more likely to seek medical treatment for symptoms, which can contribute to earlier detection and better chances of survival. Hormones may also play a role in the gender discrepancy as estrogen interacts differently with tumor cells. Furthermore, women are significantly more likely to develop peritoneal mesothelioma than men, which has a much higher survival rate than pleural mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma Death Rate
The mortality rate of mesothelioma has been declining in recent years, largely due to increased regulations on asbestos use and improved safety measures for workers. However, it is still a significant health concern in the U.S. and beyond. Workers in various industries still experience asbestos exposure. Additionally, those who were exposed decades ago during the peak of asbestos use may just now be developing illnesses like mesothelioma as a result. Here are some key statistics regarding mesothelioma deaths:
- Approximately 2,500 people die from mesothelioma each year in the U.S. This equals nearly 11 deaths per million people.
- Mesothelioma took the lives of 45,221 people in the U.S. between 1999 and 2015.
- The age-adjusted death rate for mesothelioma increased by 21.7 percent during the same period.
Treatment Options and Impact on Survival
Treatment is the most significant determining factor in patient outcomes for mesothelioma. Early and aggressive treatment implementing multiple methods can significantly improve survival odds and quality of life:
- Radiation, chemotherapy, surgery, and immunotherapy are the primary treatments for mesothelioma. A multimodal treatment approach combining two or more methods is the most effective strategy for prolonging survival.
- Without treatment, the survival rate for malignant pleural mesothelioma is approximately six to nine months.
- Combining multiple chemotherapy types rather than just one can increase the median survival time from 9 to 12 months.
You may be eligible for significant compensation that The Gori Law Firm can fight for on your behalf.
Sources
- https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/malignant-mesothelioma/about/key-statistics.html
- https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/66/wr/mm6608a3.htm
- https://www.pennmedicine.org/cancer/types-of-cancer/mesothelioma/prognosis
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6637828/
- https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/uscs/about/data-briefs/no27-incidence-malignant-mesothelioma-1999-2018.htm
- https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/csem/asbestos/who_is_at_risk.html
- https://www.moffitt.org/cancers/mesothelioma/survival-rate/
- https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/malignant-mesothelioma/detection-diagnosis-staging/survival-statistics.html
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5292397/
- https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/uscs/about/data-briefs/no27-incidence-malignant-mesothelioma-1999-2018.htm
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4543335/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26108245/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4543335/
