Mesothelioma Facts and Information

Mesothelioma Facts

What is mesothelioma?

2,000-3,000 new cases of malignant mesothelioma are diagnosed each year in the US, and that number is rising.

Malignant mesothelioma is most often diagnosed in people over 50 and it is more common among men than women. The risk appears to increase with age.

There are three known types of malignant mesothelioma.

• pleural mesothelioma, which appears in the chest cavity, about 75% of cases


• peritoneal mesothelioma, which appears in the abdomen, about 10-20% of cases


• pericardial mesothelioma, which is a very rare form and appears in the heart

Workers exposed to asbestos in the past are most at risk for developing mesothelioma.

Family members exposed to asbestos dust on the asbestos worker's clothing are also at risk of asbestos related health issues.

People with only brief asbestos exposure have developed mesothelioma.

Malignant mesothelioma symptoms may not appear until decades after exposure to asbestos,