Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that is caused, in most cases, by prolonged exposure to asbestos fibers. Typically, exposure occurs in the workplace, and therefore is most common amongst workers who have worked in asbestos-prevalent industries, including construction, manufacturing, laboring, building, and automotive.

Mesothelioma is deadly, and the survival rate is very low, especially when the cancer is advanced. The following are some key mesothelioma statistics for the United States and California. If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, call me today for free, friendly advice.

According to Cancer.org, mesothelioma is fairly rare in the United States. To be sure, the cancer is reported at a rate of approximately 3,000 new cases each year. To put this in perspective, 1,685,210 new cancer cases (of all cancer types) are expected to be diagnosed over the course of the 2016 calendar year.

The rate of new cases of mesothelioma is actually on the decline right now, from the  increased rates recorded between the 1970s and 1990s. It is believed that this change can be contributed to changes in workplace standards regarding the use of asbestos.

In California, asbestos exposure is a serious concern. In fact, out of 58 counties in the state, 48 have sites of naturally occurring asbestos deposits. Sadly, El Dorado Hills is an incredibly dangerous area for asbestos, and is considered a place containing some of the most naturally occurring asbestos deposits in the world. Air samples here reportedly contain 40 times the normal level of asbestos.

As stated above, the survival rate of mesothelioma is a grim statistic. The relative five year survival rate is only five to 10 percent, and the chances of survival decrease the older the person is when they are first diagnosed. The average length of survival post diagnosis depends upon the stage at which the cancer is caught. The median survival for stage I is 21 months; 19 months for stage II; 16 months for stage III; and a mere 12 months for stage IV. Of course, these are averages; there are many people who live much longer than this after being diagnosed.

There are about 595,690 deaths from cancer (of all types) per year. There were a total of 18,068 deaths from malignant mesothelioma reported from the years 1999 to 2005, which means there was an average of about 2,581 mesothelioma deaths a year during that time period. This means that deaths from mesothelioma comprise about 0.4 percent of all cancer deaths in the United States, a relatively small amount. California saw 3,762 mesothelioma deaths from 1999-2013.

Those who are most likely to develop mesothelioma are those who have worked for years around asbestos fibers, and inhaled the fibers (as discussed above). Statistics also indicate that mesothelioma is more common in Latinos and Whites than it is in African Americans or Asian Americans.

Race is not the only factor that affects mesothelioma risk; age plays a role, too. The median age for mesothelioma diagnosis is 69, and it is much more common for older people to be diagnosed with the disease than younger people.

Finally, men develop mesothelioma more often than do women. This is likely due to workplace exposure, as many of the industries where asbestos exposure was/is common, are dominated by men, such as manufacturing, plumbing, building, construction, etc.

As a mesothelioma attorney in Sacramento, and one who practices near El Dorado Hills, I have seen some tragic mesothelioma cases over the years. If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, or lost a loved one to this terrible disease, I understand what you are going through and can help you to take legal action to seek compensation for your losses. I will investigate your case and the direct cause of the mesothelioma, including the source of asbestos, to prove that negligence has occurred, then file a strong claim that demonstrates why you deserve to be compensated for your economic and noneconomic damages.

It is important that you take action quickly if you think that you may have a case, as the clock on California’s statute of limitations is ticking.

I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento Mesothelioma Lawyer. If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, please call me today at 916.921.6400 for free, friendly advice. If you prefer, contact me using this online form.

Member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum.  Members in the forum are top US trial attorneys who have obtained multiple million dollar verdicts on behalf of their clients.

See my past Verdicts and Settlements here.