Mesothelioma Blog

Once a rare type of cancer, mesothelioma has become increasingly common throughout the world. This is largely due to the rise in asbestos product use that began in the 1960s. Though asbestos use has been dramatically reduced since it has been linked to the deadly cancer, a new study in Great Britain suggests that deaths caused by the illness are expected to rise steadily for the next few years.

The study began by tallying all British deaths from the past several decades that referenced mesothelioma on the death certificate. As expected, these numbers rose from 153 deaths in 1968 to 1,848 deaths in 2001. In total, 25,000 people died from mesothelioma during this time frame.

Using these figures, and accounting for the rise and fall of asbestos exposure, analysts have concluded that mesothelioma deaths will continue to rise. The peak death rate from the disease is expected to occur between 2011 and 2015. The estimated number of deaths at this time is between 1,950 and 2,450 people.

However, the study does offer some good news. Following the predicted peak in mesothelioma death rates, the numbers are expected to drop rapidly. In total, approximately 90,000 British citizens are expected to die from mesothelioma between the years of 1968 and 2050. 65,000 of these deaths will occur after 2001.

Resource:

The expected burden of mesothelioma mortality in Great Britain from 2002 to 2050
http://www.nature.com/bjc/journal/v92/n3/full/6602307a.html