“Staging” is a process that doctors use to track the progression of a patient’s cancer. Each kind of cancer is divided into four stages, with Stage I being the earliest phase of the illness and Stage IV being the last, and thus the most severe. This is not to say that there is only one way to stage cancer. There are different systems for different forms of cancer, and some cancers — including mesothelioma — have more than one staging system.
Unfortunately, most cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed in the third or fourth stage, when treatment is difficult.
Staging Mesothelioma
A few different systems for staging mesothelioma have been developed over the years, although they are not drastically different from one another. In general, these systems run along the following lines:
- Stage I: Cancerous cells are only present in one side of the chest, and — according to most systems — only in the outer layers of the mesothelium. The lymph nodes are not affected.
- Stage II: Cancer cells have moved into the inner linings of the lungs or other affected organs, and possibly the lymph nodes on one side of the chest.
- Stage III: Malignant cancer cells can be found within the lungs, heart, or other organs themselves, rather than just the linings. They may have also spread to the lymph nodes on the other side of the chest or other areas of the body.
- Stage IV: The cancer has metastasized, meaning it has spread throughout the lymph system or to other areas of the body besides the originally affected organ.
Unfortunately, by the time mesothelioma or another type of cancer has reached Staged IV, patients’ long-term survival rates are generally low. As with all illness, the earlier mesothelioma is diagnosed, the better chance a patient has of receiving successful treatment. If you have worked with asbestos in the past, be sure to tell your doctor so he or she can monitor your health for potential “red flags.”