Mesothelioma
What is mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer primarily caused by exposure to asbestos.1 Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) affects the chest and lungs and is the most common type of mesothelioma.1
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Prevalence of mesothelioma
In the UK, around 2,700 people are diagnosed with mesothelioma each year (2016 – 2018).2 The disease is more common in older people with 56% of those diagnosed being over the age of 75 (2016 – 2018).2 The UK has the highest mesothelioma mortality rate globally, with around 2,400 deaths occurring every year (2017 – 2019).2,3
The prevalence of mesothelioma has increased by 57% since the early 1990s due to the heavy use of asbestos up until the mid 1970s.2,4 The number of mesothelioma cases is expected to decline by 53% by 2035.2
Legislative changes to asbestos use in the UK4,5
Signs and symptoms of mesothelioma
Symptoms don’t often occur in early stages. When they do appear, they are often caused by disruption to nerves or other organs.6
MPM symptoms6
Treatment options for mesothelioma
Mesothelioma can be challenging to treat as it's often found when it's at an advanced stage. Depending on the type of mesothelioma, a patient's treatment options could include:7,8
Surgery
Radiotherapy
Chemotherapy
Immunotherapy
References
1 Cancer Research UK. What is mesothelioma? Available at: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/mesothelioma/about
Last accessed: October 2023
2 Cancer Research UK. Mesothelioma statistics. Available at: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/health-professional/cancer-statistics/statistics-by-cancer-type/mesothelioma#heading-Zero
Last accessed: October 2023
3 Omar Abdel-Rahman. Global trends in mortality from malignant mesothelioma: Analysis of WHO mortality database (1994-2013). The Clinical Respiratory Journal 2018; 12(6):2090-2100
4 Cancer Research UK. Risks and causes. Available at: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/mesothelioma/risks-causes
Last accessed: October 2023
5 Public Health England. Asbestos: general information. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/asbestos-properties-incident-management-and-toxicology/asbestos-general-information
Last accessed: October 2023
6 Cancer Research UK. Symptoms of mesothelioma. Available at: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/mesothelioma/symptoms
Last accessed: October 2023
7 Cancer Research UK. Treatment for mesothelioma. Available at: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/mesothelioma/treatment
Last accessed: October 2023
8 Macmillan Cancer Support. Immunotherapy for pleural mesothelioma. Available at: https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/treatments-and-drugs/immunotherapy-for-pleural-mesothelioma
Last accessed: October 2023
October 2023 | ONC-GB-2200708