Mesothelioma in NSW still to peak

Chief Cancer Officer and CEO of the Cancer Institute NSW Professor David Currow said that, although the unregulated use of asbestos is more than 25 years in the past, the incidence of mesothelioma is still increasing in NSW due to the long period between exposure and the development of this disease.

“In 2007 mesothelioma accounted for 0.6% of all new cases of cancer in NSW with 85% of cases in males,” said Professor Currow. “Unfortunately, survival from mesothelioma is poor because there is a lack of an effective therapy. Only 4.5% of people diagnosed with mesothelioma survived five years after diagnosis.

“With the continued increase in the number of people diagnosed with mesothelioma, it is vital that effective treatments are developed that improve survival and quality of life for people with this disease.”

Professor Currow commented that, in the past, Australia had the highest per-capita consumption of asbestos of any country in the world. Today, it has one of the highest incidence rates of mesothelioma in the world. Australia’s experience with asbestos consumption and mesothelioma is an important example to those countries still using asbestos.

“While older workers are now developing the disease from long-ago exposure to asbestos, the substance - found in many pre-1980 buildings - still poses a lethal threat,” he said. “In spite of strict controls over asbestos use and removal, the threat for many Australians remains. The current and projected increase in mesothelioma cases is related to asbestos exposure more than 20 years in the past. Ensuring that asbestos is managed safely now will prevent cases of mesothelioma in the future.”

Cancer Institute NSW statistics show over 200 mesothelioma deaths annually, but the true toll in terms of Australia is far higher.

“In NSW alone, it is estimated that almost 3500 people have died from mesothelioma between 1972 and 2007,” said Professor Currow. “It’s known that many cases of mesothelioma were not recognised or reported as such in the 1970s and not captured in the figures.

“A key part of the Cancer Institute’s work is to monitor incidence and mortality rates for different types of cancer. It helps us to anticipate the future cancer burden, which is essential for planning in the health services.”