Malignant mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that originates within the thin linings that protect our internal organs, known as mesothelium. Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer that has no known cure, but is known to be caused by exposure to asbestos. Like any cancer, mesothelioma has stages, which describe the extent to which the cancer is affecting the patient’s body. Determination of stage at mesothelioma diagnosis can be extremely important in deciding which treatments are available to the patient and assessing a prognosis. Mesothelioma stages range on a scale from I to IV, with the lower numbers indicating an earlier stage disease and vice-versa.
Stage I mesothelioma is rare upon diagnosis simply because very few patients will exhibit symptoms which prompt an examination this early in the progress of the disease. However rare, these patients are afforded the best prognoses because the earlier the cancer is diagnosed the more mesothelioma treatment options are available to them. At this point the mesothelioma is likely confined to one location and has not spread at all. For these patients, certain surgical procedures are available, along with chemotherapy and radiation therapy if the patient is healthy enough to receive them.
Stage II mesothelioma is typically where some symptoms prompt a physician’s examination. Mild chest pains or abdominal swelling may indicate a case of mesothelioma in stage II. At this stage, surgery is only available for a small portion of patients. The cancer has likely spread to another location within the chest or abdominal cavity. However, treatment has been very successful using chemotherapy and radiation to control symptoms and slow the cancer’s growth.
Stage III and IV mesothelioma are advanced stage cancers in which surgery is not likely to be available. Physicians will likely recommend a carefully formulated treatment program including radiation and chemotherapy to control the discomfort caused by symptoms of the disease. At this stage, the cancer has likely spread throughout the abdominal and chest cavity, affecting several internal body structures. Health at this stage will play a large role in determining how much treatment should be administered. Often, the side effects of chemotherapy will make the patient more uncomfortable than pursuing alternative therapies at the end of life stages. All patients should discuss with their physicians and cancer specialists about new treatments that may be able to help them.
Only a physician or cancer specialist will know exactly which treatments are right for each patient, though input from family and loved ones is important and should be considered.