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Mesothelioma Stages

Mesothelioma is a kind of lung cancer that is caused exclusively by getting exposed to asbestos.  Doctors usually divide the progression of cancer into four stages based on how far the disease has spread.  The 4 mesothelioma stages are like this :

Stage I
In Stage I, the mesothelioma is confined to the side of the body.  At this stage, it is sometimes limited to the pleura.  The two pleura form a membrane that surrounds the lung, and are separated by a layer of lubricating fluid.  Mesothelioma in the pleura causes them to make more of this fluid than they want. 

On rare occasions, Stage I mesothelioma may involve the lung itself, the pericardium ( the membrane that surrounds the heart ), or the diaphragm ( the muscle that separates the stomach from the chest ). 

Stage II
In stage II, the mesothelioma has spread.  It now involves the chest wall, the esophagus ( which connects the mouth to the gut ), or the heart.  It may affect the pleura on each side of the body.  It may also have an effect on the chest’s lymph nodes ( part of the immunological response that works to clear out foreign particles ). 

Stage III
In stage III, the mesothelioma has spread further.  It is now outside the diaphragm and in the peritoneum ( the surface that surrounds the abdominal cavity ).  It may also affect lymph nodes outside of the chest. 

Stage IV
In the last of the mesothelioma stages, the cancer has gone thru spreading, that is, it has gone thru the bloodstream to spread to the organs a great distance away from the chest and abdomen. 

Symptoms due to mesothelioma depend on where it has spread to.  If it is restricted to a lung ( as is characteristic of early mesothelioma stages ), it can cause dry coughing and loss of breath.  If it has spread to the peritoneum, it can cause fever, swelling, and bowel or urinary Problems.  In the final stages, it may cause trouble swallowing, unexpected weight loss, or vomiting blood.swallowing, sudden weight loss, or vomiting blood.

*Please note: Information in this article is provided for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. You should consult a physician in all matters relating to your health.

Article By John Black

This entry was posted on Monday, July 26th, 2010 at 8:45 am and is filed under General Interest. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.