Number of cases of mesothelioma in the US each year | 2023

Introduction

Mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive form of cancer that mostly affects the mesothelium, a thin layer of tissue that lines the lungs, abdomen, and heart. Mesothelioma is most often caused by being exposed to asbestos, a naturally occurring mineral that was once used in many different industries. In this article, we’ll look at the number of new cases of mesothelioma in the United States each year, how these numbers have changed over time, and how increased awareness and stricter rules have affected these numbers.

Number of mesothelioma cases per year in USA

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Cancer Society say that each year in the United States, about 3,000 new cases of mesothelioma are found. Most of these cases, between 75 and 80%, are caused by pleural mesothelioma, which affects the lining of the lungs. Other types of mesothelioma are less common. They affect the lining of the abdomen (peritoneal mesothelioma) and the lining of the heart (pericardial mesothelioma).

Mesothelioma Case Trends Over Time

From the 1930s to the 1970s, the United States used asbestos the most. Asbestos-containing materials were used in many different industries, such as construction, automotive, shipbuilding, and manufacturing. So, in the second half of the 20th century, the number of mesothelioma cases in the country began to rise.

But since the 1980s, the number of mesothelioma cases each year has kind of stayed the same. This is mostly because more people know how dangerous asbestos is and because rules and safety measures have been put in place to limit its use. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) have set strict rules to limit asbestos exposure in workplaces and public places. This has led to a drop in diseases caused by asbestos.

Mesothelioma has a long latency period, which can be anywhere from 20 to 50 years after the first exposure to asbestos. Because of this, mesothelioma is still being found in a lot of people who were exposed to asbestos during its peak use.

How awareness and rules affect things

Over the past few decades, stricter rules and more awareness have helped cut down on asbestos exposure and, as a result, the number of people who get mesothelioma. The EPA has banned the use of asbestos in many products, and OSHA has set up strict safety standards for the workplace to protect workers from being exposed to asbestos.

In addition to government efforts, public health campaigns and educational programs have made people more aware of the dangers of asbestos exposure. This has led to better efforts to prevent exposure and find it early. It is important to find mesothelioma as soon as possible so that treatment can work better and more people can live longer.

Conclusion

Even though there are still about 3,000 new cases of mesothelioma in the U.S. every year, the number isn’t going up much. This is because more people know about it and there are stricter rules. As our knowledge of diseases caused by asbestos keeps growing, it is still important to protect public health and help people with mesothelioma. To lessen the effects of mesothelioma on people and their families, it is important to keep pushing for stricter rules, better workplace safety, and more money for mesothelioma research.