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Mesothelioma Death and Mortality Rate
Table Of Contents
Pleural mesothelioma has a 1-year survival rate of about 73% and a 5-year survival rate of about 12%. Peritoneal mesothelioma has a 1-year survival rate of about 92% and a 5-year survival rate of about 65%. Pericardial mesothelioma has a 1-year survival rate of about 26% and a 5-year survival rate of 9%.
Written by Karen Selby, RN | Medically Reviewed By Dr. Jacques Fontaine | Edited By Walter Pacheco | Last Update: July 25, 2024
Written by Karen Selby, RN | Medically Reviewed By Dr. Jacques Fontaine | Edited By Walter Pacheco | Last Update: July 25, 2024
What Is the Mesothelioma Death Rate in the US?
The mesothelioma death rate in the United States is 1 in 100,000 people, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A total of 2,376 people died of mesothelioma in the U.S. in 2020, per CDC statistics. Between 2016 and 2020, a total of 12,403 people died of this cancer. These numbers reflect individuals from all genders, ages, races and ethnicities across the country.
1 in 100,000
The mesothelioma death rate in the U.S. in 2020, according to the latest data available from the CDC.
Asbestos exposure plays a large role in mesothelioma death rates. Individuals exposed to asbestos are more likely to develop and die from mesothelioma. States with the highest asbestos exposure as a result of industry or natural deposits also have the highest mesothelioma mortality rates.
Understanding Death Rate Statistics
The mesothelioma death rate refers to the number of mesothelioma deaths per year in a certain number of people. To better understand death rate statistics, it helps to learn about the terms doctors and researchers use. Death rate and mortality rate are 2 terms for the same concept. They both refer to the number of deaths in general or from a precise cause in a specific group of people.
For example, the CDC states the mesothelioma death rate in 2020 was 1 in 100,000 people. This means that out of 100,000 individuals, 1 died from mesothelioma. Keep in mind, the COVID-19 pandemic interfered with many health services and cancer screenings. This may have contributed to lower detection and diagnosis rates of new cancer cases.
It’s also important to make the distinction between death rate versus survival rate. According to the National Cancer Institute, the survival rate is “the percentage of people in a study or treatment group who are still alive for a certain period of time after they were diagnosed or started treatment for a disease, such as cancer.” Researchers typically discuss 1-year and 5-year survival rates. These refer to the proportion of individuals still alive 1 and 5 years after receiving a mesothelioma diagnosis or starting treatment.
Statisticians use age-adjusted death rates to compare 2 populations at a point in time or 1 population at 2 different points in time. Age adjustment removes age-related differences in populations. Creating age-adjusted data helps researchers make accurate comparisons when talking about death rates. The CDC notes that death rates are age-adjusted according to the 2000 U.S. standard population.
This rare cancer has hard numbers that can bring fear and anxiety, but I tell our patients and their families that with the right guidance of mesothelioma specialists, treatment and support groups, there is hope for them.
Mesothelioma Death Rate by Gender
Men have significantly higher death rates from mesothelioma than women. This is likely because men are more likely to work in asbestos-related occupations, including construction, shipbuilding and mining. According to data from the CDC WONDER tool, the age-adjusted death rate of mesothelioma in males in 2020 was 1 per 100,000 individuals.
Data from a recent study found that the annual number of mesothelioma cases in women increased from 489 in 1999 to 614 in 2020. However, age-adjusted calculations per 100,000 women fell from 0.483 to 0.415. These data show women are less than half as likely to die from mesothelioma compared to men.
Mesothelioma Death Rate by Age
Mesothelioma death rates are much higher in adults ages 75 and older than those younger than 75. Adults ages 85 and older have the highest crude death rate of 7.2 per 100,000 individuals. Conversely, those ages 45-49 have the lowest crude death rate of 0.1 per 100,000 individuals.
The crude death rate refers to the unadjusted death rate. To compare the same population across age groups, it’s more accurate to use the crude death rate, not the age-adjusted death rate.
Mesothelioma Death Rates Per 100,000 for Ages 35 to 59:
Death Rates Per 100,000 for Ages 60 to 80+:
The CDC data show that the older an individual is, the more likely they are to die from mesothelioma. A recent study from South Korea found the latency period for malignant mesothelioma was 33.7 years. This is why many individuals don’t develop mesothelioma until they’re older adults.
Mesothelioma Death Rate by Race and Ethnicity
In 2020, CDC data show that white, non-Hispanic individuals had the highest age-adjusted mesothelioma death rate of 0.7 per 100,000 individuals. This group also accounted for the largest number of deaths, at 2057. By comparison, Asian and Pacific Islander individuals accounted for only 41 deaths and an age-adjusted death rate of 0.2 per 100,000 individuals.
Studies also show Black individuals have poorer survival rates compared to white and Asian/Pacific Islander individuals. The 1-year and 5-year survival rates from 2000 to 2019 for Black individuals are 29% and 1%, compared to 33.2% and 2.1% for white individuals.
Mesothelioma Deaths by State
According to CDC WONDER data, mesothelioma death rates are highest in Oregon, Maine and Minnesota. Oregon has only 57 deaths but the highest age-adjusted death rate of 1.1 deaths per 100,000 individuals. Maine had the second-highest age-adjusted death rate of 1.0 deaths per 100,000 individuals, but only 19 reported mesothelioma deaths. California has the highest number of deaths, at 257. However, the age-adjusted rate is only 0.6 deaths per 100,000 individuals.
The highest mesothelioma death rates occur in states with known asbestos-related industries. California, Florida and Maine are home to shipyards and shipbuilding industries that use asbestos. California and Oregon sit on some of the largest asbestos deposits in the world.
Other Factors Affecting Mesothelioma Mortality
Your overall health and comorbid health conditions can affect mortality rates with mesothelioma. Comorbidities are other health conditions that occur alongside mesothelioma.
Individuals with mesothelioma are more likely to have high blood pressure, diabetes, coronary artery disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The CDC states that some of the leading causes of death in the U.S. are heart disease and diabetes. After a mesothelioma diagnosis, it’s important to treat comorbid conditions and take care of your overall health.
Survivor Story
Survivor Story
Trina Reif
Peritoneal Mesothelioma
20-Year Mesothelioma Survivor Reflects on Her Journey
A lot of life can be lived in 20 years, and Trina Reif is proof of that. Now in her 21st year as a mesothelioma survivor, Trina counts every family milestone as a blessing. “I said if I could make my 20-year mark, I’d be so thrilled,” Trina told The Mesothelioma Center at Asbestos.com. “Every birthday is a blessing. Every year the good Lord gives me, I’m going to take.”
Mesothelioma Type
Mesothelioma is divided into several types, and each has a unique survival rate. The median survival rate with mesothelioma is 1 year. This means that 1 year after diagnosis, half of individuals with mesothelioma are still alive, and the other half have died. The 5-year survival rate is less than 10%. The mesothelioma stage also affects how long someone may live. This staging may impact the death rate, but the CDC does not track this data.
Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma has a poor prognosis. The median age-adjusted survival rate in studies is 11.6 months. This means only half of people diagnosed with this cancer are alive after 11.6 months. Pericardial mesothelioma is extremely rare and also carries a poor prognosis. On average, people with this cancer type live 6 to 10 months after their diagnosis.
Improved Mesothelioma Treatments
In recent years, doctors and researchers have developed new and improved mesothelioma treatments. Chemotherapy significantly improves survival rates and progression-free survival. Treatment with combination chemotherapy helps individuals with mesothelioma live an average of 3 months longer.
Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer, and the treatments for it can be tough. But some patients can live much longer with this treatment. The treatment combines chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. The patients who derive a benefit from this type of tough treatment and who live longer are patients who have a cell type called epithelial type or biphasic type.
Dr. Jacques Fontaine, thoracic surgeon and director of the Mesothelioma Research and Treatment Center at Moffitt Cancer Center
Immunotherapy boosts the immune system to fight cancer. Doctors may choose a combination of Opdivo (nivolumab) and Yervoy (ipilimumab) as a first option for treating mesothelioma. Studies have also found Imfinzi (durvalumab) treatment improves mesothelioma survival rates.
Newer treatments, such as tumor treating fields, may also reduce mesothelioma death rates. TTFields use electric fields to stop mesothelioma cells from growing and dividing. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved TTFields for treating malignant pleural mesothelioma.
Beyond the Numbers
Awareness of the risks and likelihood of mesothelioma, especially in those who have previous asbestos exposure, has increased in recent years. The U.S. doesn’t yet fully ban asbestos, but it placed a federal ban on chrysotile asbestos in March 2024. The hope is that reducing asbestos exposure will reduce future mesothelioma incidence and deaths.
I think that a lot of things need to be done to increase the awareness about mesothelioma and asbestos. One thing is, I believe, that it should be publicized more, just as the other cancers, such as breast cancer.
Tamron Little, peritoneal mesothelioma survivor and Survivor Advocate at The Mesothelioma Center
Mesothelioma screenings catch signs of the disease before symptoms start occurring. The sooner mesothelioma is diagnosed, the sooner treatment can begin. However, most patients are diagnosed in later stages, which limits treatment options. If you have a history of previous asbestos exposure, talk to your doctor. You may be eligible for mesothelioma screening.
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