Mesothelioma Incidence and Risk

Despite the fact that the number of cases for this disease have increased in the last two decades, mesothelioma is still an uncommon cancer.

The incidence of this disease is 1 case per 1 million people. While this may sound high, it is little compared to cases of lung cancer, which have a rate of 1000 cases per 1 million people.

In developed countries, mesothelioma is typically eight to forty cases per 1 million people. The amount may vary depending on how much a particular population has been exposed to asbestos.

Recent studies have shown that the incidence of mesothelioma may have greatly increased in the US during 2004. In that year, the incidence of this disease jumped to 15 cases per 1 million people, which was much higher than before.

Numbers are expected to grow in other regions of the world.

Mesothelioma is more often found in men rather than women, and the elderly are more likely to have the disease than people who are younger. However, this condition can be found in both men and women, and is not limited to the older segment of the population.

A large percentage of cases are found in the abdomen.

Working with products that contain asbestos will put a person at risk for developing the disease. In the vast majority of cases, those who have contracted mesothelioma worked in environments where they were exposed to asbestos. It should be noted that this isn't always the case, and there have been instances where a person was not directly exposed to asbestos, but still developed this condition.

Asbestos is a type of mineral that exists naturally as tough fibers which are flexible. It can be split into slim threads which may be woven. Because of these properties, asbestos has often been used in a number of industrial products.

Some of these products include roof shingles, cement, and textiles. Tiny asbestos particles will glide through the air when products containing asbestos are manufactured.

People who work in these environments are susceptible to developing mesothelioma.

It is important therefore, to avoid using products containing asbestos, and strict guidelines have also been set in the industrial manufacturing industry.

Currently, there is no screening process which is agreed upon by healthcare professionals. Despite this, current research suggests that the serum osteopontin stage of a patient is an effective method for screening those who have been exposed to asbestos.

The amount of mesothelin proteins has been increased in the serum of over 70% of patients, and the results have been successful.

In addition to mesothelioma, asbestos is known for causing lung cancer and asbestosis. It can also cause cancers of the liver or kidney.

Once a diagnosis of mesothelioma has been made, a doctor must determine the stage of the disease in order to treat the patient.

If the disease is only found in the region where it originated, it is referred to as being localized. However, if it has spread to other parts of the body, it is referred to as being advanced.