Mesothelioma Stages
Once malignant mesothelioma is found, more tests will be done to find out if
cancer cells have spread to other parts of the body. This is called staging. A doctor
needs to know the stage of the cancer to plan treatment. The following stages are used for
malignant mesothelioma.
Localized malignant
mesothelioma - Early Stage
Stage I The cancer is found in the
lining of the chest cavity near the lung and heart or in the diaphragm or the lung.
Advanced stages of malignant
mesothelioma
Stage II The cancer has spread beyond the
lining of the chest to lymph nodes in the chest.
Stage III Cancer has spread into the
chest wall, center of the chest, heart, through the diaphragm, or abdominal lining, and in
some cases into nearby lymph nodes.
Stage IV Cancer has spread to
distant organs or tissues.
Recurrent malignant mesothelioma
Recurrent disease means that the cancer has come back (recurred) after it
has been treated. It may come back in the lining of the chest or abdomen or in another
part of the body. |