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Is mesothelioma harder on older individuals?

On Behalf of | Oct 19, 2022 | mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that can be caused by asbestos. It typically manifests itself in the lungs and the chest cavity, or sometimes in the abdomen. It begins in the tissues that surround some of these organs. The reason that it starts is simply that a person has inhaled or ingested asbestos particles.

This is known as a very aggressive type of cancer, meaning that it can quickly become more advanced and more hazardous to a person’s health. What you’ll also find is that many of the people who have severe complications or pass away from this disease tend to be older individuals. Does this mean that mesothelioma is simply harder to deal with as you grow older?

A delayed onset

There is something to be said for older individuals having more health complications when they get a serious disease. The body is simply more frail and it’s more difficult to recover from anything, not just cancer.

But the real reason that the stats look this way is that mesothelioma often has a delayed beginning that may be decades after the actual exposure. The American Cancer Society notes that it is very rarely found in those who are not yet 45 years old. They also note that roughly 66% of those with mesothelioma in the chest are at least 65 years old.

But these individuals could have easily been exposed to asbestos particles in their 20s or 30s. Some people are even exposed as children. If you find yourself in this position, it’s definitely time to look into all of your legal options.