Mesothelioma Stages | Pleural Mesothelioma Stages

4 Stages of Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma Staging helps in deciding best course of treatment that can be planned for the patients. Mesothelioma stages explained here are based upon the size of the tumor and the level of its spreading.  Here we will discuss the TNM staging system which is a recognized staging system for Pleural mesothelioma.

Stages of Mesothelioma

Following are the 4 stages of Pleural mesothelioma 

Stage 1 Mesothelioma 

It is very difficult to diagnose mesothelioma at this early stage as patients usually do not experience symptoms. In the stage 1 of mesothelioma the tumor is localized in the mesothelial lining of the lung. At this stage patients generally have no difficulties in breathing. The tumor is also too small to cause any pain. If somehow we can diagnose mesothelioma at this stage, then it becomes very easy to cure it as most treatment options are available at this stage.

Stage 2 Mesothelioma

In this stage mesothelioma cancer cells begin to spread beyond the mesothelial lining of the lung and enter into the nearby lymph nodes. In the stage 2 of pleural mesothelioma most treatment options are still available. 

Stage 3 Mesothelioma

In the stage 3 of pleural mesothelioma the tumor spreads into distant lymph nodes, nearby organs and several tissues. In comparison to earlier stages, treatment options may be limited. Here it is important to note that most mesothelioma patients are not eligible for surgery at stage 3, so it is typically treated with chemotherapy. 

Stage 4 Mesothelioma 

Surgery to remove tumor is not used at this stage as cancer cells have spread throughout the chest cavity and to other organs. In stage 4 mesothelioma treatment options are very limited. There are some treatment options available at this stage like immunotherapy and chemotherapy for mesothelioma patients that can help patients live longer.