Mesothelioma epidemiology is one of the key factors in understanding the rare and aggressive cancer, providing significant insight by profiling who contracts it and what factors contributed to their diagnosis. With mortality rates rising 5 to 10 percent each year in most industrialized countries, studying patient demographics such as age, sex and location offers a critical understanding of the disease’s history while contributing to the consideration of potential prevention and treatment options.

Eight international case studies of 657 mesothelioma patients between 1965 and 1975 confirmed the causal link between asbestos exposure and malignant mesothelioma.  More recent mesothelioma epidemiology shows that men in their 60s or 70s who worked in mining, shipyards, railroads, refineries or...