mesothelioma

The stage of the cancer is how the medical community designates the extent of a cancer in the body. Staging is usually based on the size of the tumor, whether lymph nodes contain cancer, and whether the cancer has spread from the original site to other parts of the body. Knowing the stage helps the doctor form a treatment plan.
Mesothelioma is considered localized if the cancer is confined to the pleura, or advanced if it has spread beyond the pleura to other parts of the body such as the lungs, chest wall, abdominal cavity, or lymph nodes.
Localized malignant mesothelioma, considered Stage I, is found in the lining of the chest wall and may also be found in the lining of the lung, the lining of the diaphragm, or the lining of the sac that covers the heart on the same side of the chest.
Advanced malignant mesothelioma includes Stage II, Stage III, and Stage IV.
In Stage II, cancer is found in the lining of the chest wall and the lymph nodes on the same side of the chest. Cancer may also be found in the lining of the lung, the lining of the diaphragm, or the lining of the sac that covers the heart on the same side of the chest.
In Stage III, cancer has spread to any of the following areas:
The chest wall
The mediastinum
The heart
Beyond the diaphragm
The peritoneum
The lymph nodes on the other side of the chest or outside the chest
In Stage IV, cancer has spread to distant organs or tissues What is my prognosis if I am diagnosed with mesothelioma? The prognosis, or chance of recovery, and treatment options depend on:
The Stage of the cancer
The size of the tumor
If the tumor can be removed completely by surgery
The amount of fluid in the chest or abdomen
The patient's age and general health, including lung and heart health
The type of mesothelioma cancer cells and how they look under a microscope
Whether the cancer has just been diagnosed or has recurred, people diagnosed with this disease are often told the expected survival rate is only eight to twelve months. However, specialists in treating malignant mesothelioma at the leading cancer centers often have a bit better statistics, typically because they are focused on early stage patients and experimental treatments.