Incidence Of Malignant Mesothelioma
The incidence of malignant mesothelioma remains
relatively low, with approximately 7 to 40 cases per 1,000,000 in
industrialized Western nations; however, the incidence rates for
this rare cancer have actually increased slightly in the past 20
years.
In order to get a clearer perspective on these numbers,
consider that numbers of lung cancer can reach incidence rates of
over 1,000 per 1,000,000 persons. Because it is so difficult to
diagnose mesothelioma and because it can often be misdiagnosed as
lung cancer, the actual incidences of malignant mesothelioma are
difficult to obtain.
Mesothelioma cancer occurs more often in men than in women and
the risk increases with age, but this disease can appear in either
men or women and at any age. However, most patients are male and
over the age of 65.
There is definitely a surge in the incidence of
malignant mesothelioma in males 65 years of age or older, however,
it is important to remember that cases of mesothelioma are also
diagnosed in women and children as well.
Consider whether women and
children were exposed by living in an area where asbestos particles
were in the air or perhaps suffered
asbestos exposure by handling the clothing of
husbands and dads where minute particles of asbestos may have been
located. Also, it is interesting to note that mesothelioma is less
common in African Americans than in Caucasian Americans.
Although the exact number of Americans exposed to asbestos is
unknown it is thought that the number exposed between 1940 and 1980
exceeds 25 million. Malignant mesothelioma is directly associated
with environmental and occupational exposure to asbestos and the
majority of asbestos exposure occurred within asbestos product
plants and shipbuilding facilities.
When you think about the
potential number of Americans exposed to asbestos and the potential
number of Americans now at risk for the development of the rare
cancer, malignant mesothelioma, it is indeed astonishing.
So even though it is a rare cancer, incidence of malignant mesothelioma
deserves attention because of the direct link between the exposure
to asbestos and the development of the cancer. With this knowledge,
it is hopeful that the incidences of malignant mesothelioma will
soon begin to decline.
More Resources
Articles
Incidence Of Malignant
Mesothelioma
It is thought that the
number exposed between 1940 and 1980 exceeds
25 million. |
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Asbestos Exposure
After asbestos fibers are breathed in, they can easily enter and become trapped
in the airways and lung tissue and the body has difficulty removing the fibers. |
Diagnosing Pleural Mesothelioma
Diagnosing pleural
mesothelioma is a challenge. Pleural mesothelioma is the most common of all
mesothelioma cancers. |
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Pleural Mesothelioma
Pleural
mesothelioma is the most common of all mesotheliomas and diagnosing this
rare cancer can be a challenge. |
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