Who is mesothelioma most likely to affect and what is the prognosis?
The typical patient with mesothelioma will be a male in his 50s to 70s with a history of working in a profession where there is a high risk of exposure to asbestos.
Professions with a high risk of asbestos exposure include construction workers, railroad workers, naval mechanics, bakers, automobile mechanics and explosive workers.
Women also do develop mesothelioma, but it is more common in men at a ratio of 3:1.
Women who develop mesothelioma also have a history of working in high risk professions for asbestos exposure or may have been exposed to asbestos secondary to inhaling fibers off of the clothing of a person who has been exposed to asbestos.
The period between exposure to asbestos and developing symptoms of malignant mesothelioma can range from 20-40 years.
Survival rate after the onset of symptoms can be as little as five months in extensive disease and sixteen months in localized disease.
Majority of patients die within a year after diagnosis.