Mesothelioma Facts

1. Over 10,000 people worldwide are diagnosed with mesothelioma or other asbestos-related conditions each year, 3,000 in the US alone.
2. It is estimated that over 110,000 schools in the United States still contain some form of asbestos.
3. Even though cigarette smoking does not cause mesothelioma, victims exposed asbestos who smoke suffer a 50-90% increase in the likelihood of developing lung cancers.
4. Asbestos has been banned or regulated in many industrialized countries around the world.
5. Post-diagnosis survival of mesothelioma is measured in months, because by the time the cancer is detected it is too advanced for treatment.
6. Because of the long dormancy of mesothelioma, experts speculate that there will be an increase of cases for the next 20 to 30 years.