Mesothelioma Statistics

Key Facts About Mesothelioma

Knowing key mesothelioma statistics helps you better understand this disease and spread awareness. Learning about the therapies to treat it can ensure you make educated decisions about your health.

Who Gets Mesothelioma?

Men older than age 65 with a blue-collar or military background are most at risk for mesothelioma. That’s because blue-collar industries and all branches of the U.S. military used asbestos products. However, anyone with a history of asbestos exposure is at risk.

Secondary asbestos exposure is a risk for family members of asbestos workers. This exposure has led to mesothelioma in spouses and children of asbestos workers.

The chances of developing mesothelioma from asbestos exposure increase with continued exposure. This is called a dose-response relationship. Asbestos workers with years of exposure have an 8% to 13% risk of mesothelioma. However, it’s possible that a person could develop mesothelioma from a single, heavy exposure to asbestos. 

Mesothelioma Incidence by Demographic

Mesothelioma incidence describes the risk of developing mesothelioma cancer. The most recent year of cancer incidence data available from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program is from 2019. 

Mesothelioma Incidence by Gender

In 2019, mesothelioma was 2.8 times more likely to occur in men than women. Research and historical data show that men were more likely than women to hold jobs that used asbestos.

Of the 2,911 mesothelioma cases diagnosed in 2019, men accounted for 2,141 cases and women accounted for 770 cases. That means approximately 74% of mesothelioma cases occurred in men and 26% occurred in women.

Mesothelioma Incidence by Race/Ethnicity

Of all diagnosed patients in 2019, approximately 91% were white. The CDC’s 2019 ethnicity data shows Hispanic people with mesothelioma accounted for approximately 10% of cases.

Periodically, the U.S. Department of Labor releases summary statistics about the U.S. workforce. The reports show that Black workers are highly represented in health and education services, public administration and transportation sectors. They were less likely to be employed in occupations that used asbestos, such as building and ship construction, insulation work and mining. 

Furthermore, historically fewer Black individuals have served in the U.S. Navy, which has been a significant source of asbestos exposure for men.

Mesothelioma Incidence by Age

In 2019, the CDC reported that most people with mesothelioma are diagnosed between ages 75 and 80. The risk of developing mesothelioma is 10 times higher for those older than 60 compared to those younger than 40. 

The average age at diagnosis is the result of the 20- to 60-year latency period between first exposure to asbestos and the development of mesothelioma. This long latency period means older people are more likely to develop the disease. 

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

How Long Does Mesothelioma Take to Develop?

Mesothelioma starts to develop 20 to 60 years after exposure to asbestos. The latency period is the gap between first exposure and the appearance of symptoms.

Mesothelioma Latency Period by Gender

According to researchers, women tend to experience lower levels of asbestos exposure, which may explain their longer latency period. In contrast, men have a higher likelihood of exposure to asbestos in their occupations. Men often worked jobs in construction, power generation and factories where they were exposed to high concentrations of asbestos for extended periods of time.

Researchers also say women are typically associated with secondhand asbestos exposure, which generally occurs at lower levels and for shorter durations. These lower levels of exposure are linked to a longer latency period, although the specific type of mesothelioma may also influence this period.

Average Latency Periods by Mesothelioma Type

The average latency period for pleural mesothelioma is 30 to 60 years. For peritoneal mesothelioma, it is 20 to 40 years.

Researchers do not understand why the latency period is shorter for peritoneal mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma Statistics by Tumor Location

Most mesothelioma cases occur in the pleura, the tissue surrounding the lungs. About 20% of cases appear in the peritoneum, which is the lining of the abdomen.

In 1% of cases, this cancer forms in the lining of the heart, called the pericardium. Fewer than 1% of cases occur in the tunica vaginalis, which is the covering of the testes.

Symptoms by Tumor Location

Mesothelioma symptoms vary depending on where this cancer forms.

Early-stage symptoms are usually mild or nonexistent. This factor makes mesothelioma challenging to catch early.

Mesothelioma Survival and Mortality Rate Statistics

Mesothelioma survival and mortality rates are similar. The number of people diagnosed with the disease each year resembles the number of annual deaths. Average life expectancy is about one year.

The prognosis for mesothelioma is generally poor compared to other cancers. But the prognosis is better for certain types of mesothelioma. Half of peritoneal patients who undergo aggressive treatment live longer than five years.

Survival Rate by Mesothelioma Type

Survival rates vary significantly among the different types of mesothelioma. Medical advances have made peritoneal mesothelioma easier to treat than pleural mesothelioma.

A 2015 study from Translational Oncology reveals a large difference in survival rates. Most patients survive a year after diagnosis, but peritoneal patients see longer survival rates.

More survival rate data is available for pleural mesothelioma because it is the most common type. For example, researchers have analyzed pleural survival by stage of tumor progression.  

Median Survival Time by Pleural Mesothelioma Stage

Doctors sort pleural mesothelioma cases into stages to describe how far the cancer has spread. The mesothelioma stage at diagnosis affects the patient’s treatment options and prognosis.

Patients have more treatment options and a better prognosis in the early stages. As tumors progress, treatment options diminish and prognosis worsens. 

5-Year Survival Rates for Pleural Mesothelioma

The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program tracks 5-year survival rates. Pleural mesothelioma has three groups: Localized, regional and distant stages.

When compared to patients with distant tumors, those with localized tumors are more than twice as likely to live at least five years.

5-Year Survival Rate for Peritoneal Mesothelioma

The SEER program tracks and publishes survival rate data for pleural mesothelioma but not for the peritoneal type. This is likely because pleural cases far outnumber peritoneal cases. 

Researchers at Wake Forest University School of Medicine evaluated 380 mesothelioma patients. They reported a 5-year survival rate of 65.3% for peritoneal mesothelioma.  

Long-term survival is better in peritoneal cases because treatment is more effective.  

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 differs by race. In 2015, which is the most recent year for compiled data by race, the 5-year survival rate was 18.6% for Black people and 9.4% for those who are white.

Mortality Statistics for Mesothelioma

The mortality rate for mesothelioma is about 0.8 cases per 100,000 people. This is according to data collected from 1999 to 2020 by the CDC. During that period, a total of 54,905 Americans died from mesothelioma.

In 2017, the CDC released a more in-depth mortality report on mesothelioma data collected from 1999 to 2015. According to the report:

The death rate for mesothelioma is close to the incidence rate, which is 0.7 cases per 100,000 people.  

Mesothelioma Death Rate by State, 1999-2015

The mesothelioma mortality rate varies throughout the United States. Higher rates exist in areas with a strong history of industrial work and manufacturing.

Data collected from 1999 to 2015 remains the most current mortality rate data available for mesothelioma by state.

Mesothelioma Treatment Statistics

Mesothelioma treatment may involve surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Patients may also enroll in clinical trials for emerging treatments such as immunotherapy.Mesothelioma is a complex disease, and few doctors have experience diagnosing and treating it. Mesothelioma specialists offer patients the best options.

Research has shown improved survival with multimodal therapy. This approach combines two or more treatments.

A 2018 study presented at the eighth annual European Lung Cancer Congress showed a combination of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation produced a 1-year survival rate of 79.6% for pleural mesothelioma patients.

Combining surgery with chemotherapy is also effective for peritoneal mesothelioma. A 2018 International Journal of Hyperthermia study showed median disease-free survival was almost five years for peritoneal patients receiving HIPEC surgery. The median overall survival was more than eight years.

Only about 20% of pleural mesothelioma patients are eligible for aggressive tumor-removing surgery. Researchers are testing new drug regimens for those who do not qualify for surgery. These include drugs already used in lung cancer treatment.

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.

Mesothelioma Cost and Compensation Statistics

Treatment for mesothelioma is not easily affordable for most families. Compensation is available to help patients pay for cancer treatment and related health care costs. 

Families use mesothelioma compensation to cover various expenses such as medical bills, lost wages, travel costs and other losses. In addition to mesothelioma compensation, some people qualify for other forms of financial aid, such as VA benefits and Social Security Disability Insurance.

Additional Cancer Statistics Resources

Additional information and statistics are available from the following cancer resources.

Additional information can be found at local hospitals, cancer centers and nonprofit cancer organizations.