It takes a long time to develop
mesothelioma is characterized by having a long latency period, which means that symptoms don’t develop for 20–50 years after environmental exposure. The average age at which symptoms usually begin to appear is around 60 years old.
It is a relatively rare disease
An estimated 2,000 to 3,000 cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed each year in the US. In other countries, the number of cases differs. Overall, the number of cases reported each year appears to be increasing.
It occurs in men more than in women
Mesothelioma affects men about three times more often than women in the US. Incidence rises steadily with age. In other parts of the world, where exposure comes primarily from other environmental sources, such as in Turkey, mesothelioma occurs about equally in men and women.
It develops mostly on the lungs
The most common place for mesothelioma to develop is on the lungs. About two-thirds of all mesothelioma cases develop in the pleural mesothelium. This mesothelioma on the lungs is called malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). The remaining cases develop in the peritoneal mesothelium in the abdomen. A tumor in the abdominal mesothelium is called peritoneal mesothelioma. Rarely, mesothelioma occurs in other mesothelial tissue, such as on the heart or on the reproductive organs.
Occupations At High Risk of Asbestos Exposure
Asbestos exposure is the only known risk factor for developing mesothelioma. The majority of individuals with this rare condition have been employed at jobs where they inhaled asbestos fibers through the production and use of this material. Although the danger of contracting mesothelioma is dependent upon the measure and duration of exposure, even low amounts of asbestos exposure can result in mesothelioma.
Family members of those exposed to asbestos are also at risk for mesothelioma and related conditions. Asbestos fibers can be inhaled after being transported home on the clothes, skin, and hair of workers. Workers at risk of asbestos exposure include factory workers, ship builders, construction workers, brake repair workers, insulation manufacturers and installers, and asbestos miners. Other occupations that pose a risk of asbestos exposure can be found below. People with certain occupations are considered at higher risk for developing mesothelioma than others:
Construction Workers
Janitors
Plumbers
Electricians
Firefighters
Mechanics
Insulator
Installers
Telephone
Repair
Workers
Maintenance
Personnel
Asbestos was so prevalent in the United States at one point that almost everyone has had some contact with asbestos. However, most mesothelioma victims are exposed to asbestos over a prolonged period of time. This level of exposure does not have to be very high. Medical professionals now know many victims developed mesothelioma through secondary exposure, known as paraoccupational asbestos exposure. This means that a person who had regular contact with an asbestos worker can be exposed to the lethal fibers by inhaling the residual particles stuck to the asbestos worker’s clothing. In other words, the child or spouse of an asbestos worker is also at heightened risk for mesothelioma.
