Stages of Pleural Mesothelioma

Stage 1 Pleural Mesothelioma

            In stage one mesothelioma tumors are small and found on only one side of the body the cancer has not yet spread symptoms during stage one are often mild such as a cough or fever. Unfortunately this can lead to misdiagnosis as a bad cold or the flu an accurate diagnosis may not occur until a later stage after the symptoms have worsened. Patience was stage one mesothelioma may experience:

Ø  shortness of breath and chest pain

Ø  night sweats

Ø  weight loss

Ø  fatigue

Ø  cough and fever

            Stage one mesothelioma is the most treatable form of the disease. Patients in stage one have an average life expectancy of twenty-one months and early diagnosis can be the key to living longer.

Mesothelioma treatments are

            Patient-specific a specialist will help determine the best options which can include surgery to remove a tumor and other procedures to minimize pain and extend life expectancy. Understanding treatment options and medical terminology can be difficult but as with all diseases knowledge is power and taking the time to learn more can often improve your outcome. when it comes to surgical treatments, the options can be complicated and invasive procedures include extra pleural pneumonectomy. This form of surgery involves removing a lung and part of the chest lining another form of surgery is called pleure ectomy which removes the membrane coating onand around the lungs a third option is called Saito reduction with HIPAA Cobble tumors are surgically removed and heated chemotherapy drugs are infused directly into the abdomen to help kill cancer cells left behind because surgery alone can't remove all of the Mesothelioma cells traditional chemotherapy or radiation may also be recommended after surgery to find out more about the stages of Mesothelioma.

Stage 2 Pleural Mesothelioma

            In stage 2 mesothelioma, cancer is found in the lining of the chest wall on one side of the body this lining is called the pleura cancer may also be found in the lining of the lung diaphragm or the SAC that covers the heart fortunately. In stage 2 the cancer has not spread to the lymph nodes or to other parts of the body. The symptoms of stage 2 mesothelioma are often mistaken for a bad cold or the flu unfortunately this may delay in accurate diagnosis patients in stage 2 experienced many of the same symptoms as those living with stage 1 including:

Ø  Shortness of breath and chest pain

Ø  Night sweats

Ø  Weight loss

Ø  Fatigue

Ø  Cough and fever

            Mesothelioma treatments are patient specific a specialist will help determine the best options which can include surgery to remove a tumor and other procedures to minimize pain and extend life expectancy surgical treatment options for stage 2 mesothelioma are similar to stage 1.  Some of the options can be complicated and invasive procedures include extra pleural pneumonectomy. This form of surgery involves removing a lung and part of the chest lining another form of surgery is called cleric t'me which removes the membrane coating on and around the lungs a third option is called saito reduction with typical tumors are surgically removed and heated chemotherapy. Drugs are infused directly into the abdomen to help kill cancer cells left behind because surgery alone can't remove all of the Mesothelioma cells. Traditional chemotherapy or radiation may also be recommended after surgery.

Stage 3 Pleural Mesothelioma

            In stage 3 mesothelioma, the cancer has spread beyond the original tumor site and into the lymph nodes however, it is still contained in one side of the body because the symptoms are so severe. It is more common to receive a mesothelioma diagnosis in stage 3 than it is during earlier stages.

Stage 3 mesothelioma symptoms include:

Ø  intense chest pain

Ø  fluid in the abdomen

Ø  unexplained weight loss and a

Ø  lump may develop in the chest or abdomen

            Surgery may still be an option to relieve symptoms and possibly extend the patient's life but unfortunately,  for most stage 3 mesothelioma patients the cancer has advanced too far to be completely removed.  Doctors will use several factors to determine the best course of treatment including:

Ø  the cell type of the tumor

Ø  extent of its growth into surrounding tissue and

Ø  tumor location

Treatment Options (Similar to early stages):        

 

             The surgical options used during earlier stages of mesothelioma may be recommended in stage three to make patients more comfortable.

 Procedures may include:

“ extra pleural pneumonectomy(EPP)” or “pleurectomy also called decortication (PD)” both procedures involve the removal of some of the linings within the chest. “Cytoreduction with HIPEC (CS/HIPEC)” is the removal of all visible tumors followed by heated chemotherapy drugs targeted specifically at tissues in the abdomen where pleural mesothelioma develops.  To remove fluid built up around a tumor and relieve pain doctors may recommend additional procedures such as, “pleurodesis” a “shunt” or placement of a “catheter”. These treatments all involve inserting a tube through a small incision to drain fluid either temporarily or as a long-term solution.  To manage symptoms and slow further growth of the cancer radiation and chemotherapy can also be used to treat stage 3 mesothelioma.

Stage 4 Pleural Mesothelioma

            In stage four mesothelioma, the most advanced stage of the disease.  Cancer is often found on both sides of the body and may have spread to the lymph nodes. Other parts of the body may also develop tumors.  Stage four symptoms are similar to stage three including:

Ø  intense chest pain

Ø  fluid in the abdomen

Ø  unexplained weight loss and

Ø  a lump in the chest or abdomen

            In stage four mesothelioma, the cancer is very advanced and cannot be surgically removed. Procedures are performed only to relieve symptoms. 

Procedures may include:

“ extra pleural pneumonectomy(EPP)” or “pleurectomy also called decortication (PD)” both procedures involve the removal of some of the linings within the chest. “Cytoreduction with HIPEC (CS/HIPEC)” is the removal of all visible tumors followed by heated chemotherapy drugs targeted specifically at tissues in the abdomen where pleural mesothelioma develops.  To remove fluid built up around a tumor and relieve pain doctors may recommend additional procedures such as, “pleurodesis” a “shunt” or placement of a “catheter”. These treatments all involve inserting a tube through a small incision to drain fluid either temporarily or as a long-term solution.  To manage symptoms and slow further growth of the cancer radiation and chemotherapy can also be used to treat stage 4 mesothelioma.

            At this advanced stage palliative treatments may be suggested as a way to relieve pain and manage symptoms. The goal of palliative care is to provide the patient with the highest quality of life even though there is no cure for mesothelioma.