Mesothelioma patients as well as family member should be aware of the statistics pertinent to their disease as well the cause and the offered treatment. First off, mesothelioma is a form of cancer which is caused by the exposure to asbestos. Even though there is no cure, the survival rates for mesothelioma patients has been increasing constantly as research is moving forward. The best way to enhance your survival rate is by seeing mesothelioma specialist. There are some other important facts you need to know about this rare, yet deadly cancer.
- About 2,000 to 3,000 people have been diagnosed with mesothelioma of various kinds in a yearly basis in the United States.
- Mesothelioma is more common among men (80%) than among women (20%)
- For every twelve pleural mesothelioma cases, there is one peritoneal mesothelioma diagnosis.
- Mesothelioma symptoms may not be obvious for twenty to fifty years after the initial exposure to asbestos.
- It is one of the rarest forms of cancer, which afflicts nearly one person in every 170,000.
- Nine out of every ten diagnoses affects somebody who is over the age of 60.
- Mesothelioma diagnoses have been known to be on the rise 4 times since the 80s.
- Because of the changes in the exposure to asbestos, the number of mesothelioma causes is assumed to rocket in 2017 and then sharply decline.
Some Asbestos Facts and Statistics
Asbestos is the only known cause of mesothelioma. This substance denotes a fibrous material which is used in various products because of the resistance to heat, fire, and chemicals. Most individuals that have been exposed to asbestos are in an occupational setting during the exposure. Hereunder are the statistics related to asbestos-caused mesothelioma:
- More than 125 million people have been diagnosed to develop the cancer due to asbestos exposure at work
- Asbestos is the main cause of 1 in every 3 deaths from occupational cancer, typically that caused by working with certain materials.
- Asbestos was quite common in more than 300 products in the United States military. The substance has been extensively used on military vessels, such as battleships. If you had been exposed to asbestos in military, you should get Veteran’s Support Guide, which details the information, regarding finding financial support as well as treatment for veterans.
Facts and Statistics on Mesothelioma Treatment
There is currently no known cure for mesothelioma cancer. However, there are many distinctive treatment options available, which depend on the patient’s diagnosis. There are also some curative surgical options for earlier diagnosis. If patient’s diagnosis has reached the later stages, then treatments are the more feasible options, which is meant to comfort the patient’s pain. What follows are the possible treatments for mesothelioma.
- EPP, which stands for extrapleural pneumonectomy, was developed by Dr. David Sugarbaker. This is known as the potentially curative option devoted to pleural mesothelioma patients. During the EPP treatment, surgeon will remove the whole lung, part of the diaphragm, and part of the pericardium. It is one of the most successful surgical techniques for mesothelioma patients.
- Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy, also known as Hot Chemo or HIPEC, is sometimes operative in peritoneal mesothelioma patients. This was developed by Dr. Paul Sugarbaker.
