Stages of mesothelioma

The stage of a cancer is a term used to describe its size and whether it has spread beyond its original site. Knowing the extent of the cancer helps the doctors to decide on the most appropriate treatment.

A staging system has not yet been established for peritoneal mesothelioma

There are several staging systems for pleural mesothelioma. A commonly used system is described below:

Localised malignant mesothelioma
Stage I The cancer cells are found in the pleura near the lung and heart or in the diaphragm or the lung.

Advanced malignant mesothelioma
Stage II The cancer has spread beyond the pleura to lymph nodes in the chest.

Stage III The cancer has spread into the chest wall, the centre of the chest, the heart, through the diaphragm, or abdominal lining, and in some cases into nearby lymph nodes.

Stage IV The cancer has spread to distant organs or tissues.
source - www.cancerBACUP.org.uk