Global Mesothelioma Cases Nearly Double Over 30 Years

The number of people in the world diagnosed annually with mesothelioma cancer has almost doubled in the last 30 years, accentuating the need for more effective and better coordinated efforts to end this preventable, global health problem. Almost 35,000 people were diagnosed with mesothelioma in 2019, compared to an estimated 19,000 in 1990, according to a study by the Clinical Research Center at Shandong University, Jinan, China. Critical Reviews in Oncology/Hematology published the study in September. It is believed to be the most comprehensive and recent evaluation of the annual incidence and mortality rate for mesothelioma on a global scale. Malignant mesothelioma is a cancer without a cure. It is caused almost exclusively by exposure to asbestos, a naturally occurring mineral that was once used ubiquitously worldwide. The median overall survival after a mesothelioma diagnosis is about nine to 12 months. “There has been no study analyzing the latest mesothelioma burden and trends until now,” study authors wrote. “The aim of this study was to use data to determine the global, regional and national burdens of mesothelioma across 204 countries and territories.” Mesothelioma Awareness Needed Researchers intended the study to bring increased attention to the cancer and to help formulate specific strategies to improve policy decisions and resource allocation in various parts of the world. Although the incidence and death rates from mesothelioma almos...
Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News - Category: Environmental Health Authors: Tags: Clinical Trials/Research/Emerging Treatments Mesothelioma Source Type: news