Incidence in Minnesota is similar to national rates. Incidence is about 3 times the mortality because death certificates often attribute pleural cancers to the lung or to an unknown site.
Males have much higher risk than females, most likely because of occupational differences.
Prevention Avoiding exposure to asbestos is the best way to prevent death from this type of cancer, since treatment is rarely curative. Exposure to asbestos, usually related to occupation, is the only known risk factor for malignant mesothelioma. Peak incidence occurs approximately 45 years after the exposure started. It is rare for a mesothelioma to occur less than 20 years after exposure to asbestos. Documented occupational risks include work in asbestos mines, asbestos mills and factories, insulation manufacture and installation, gas mask manufacture, shipbuilding, railroad machinery, and work as a pipefitter.