What are the four stages of mesothelioma cancer? After being diagnosed with mesothelioma cancer, the following step is called staging. The staging process is used to determine just how far the cancer has spread. Staging is important as it may affect the treatment and prognosis. Doctors use MRI and CT scan to determine the mesothelioma staging process. Stage 1 is known as localized malignant mesothleioma. This is the initial stage of mesothelioma and here, a cancer tumor is found inside the lung lining. Malignant mesothelioma may also involve tumors being found in the lung, pericardium and diaphragm. Stage 2 mesothelioma is when, in addition to the presence of mesothelioma in the pleura, this cancer has also spread to the chest wall, esophagus, heart or lymph nodes in the chest. Stage 3 mesothelioma is when this cancer has already invaded the diaphragm into the peritoneum. Stage 4 meosthelioma is when this cancer has metastasized and rapidly spreading through the bloodstream to other organs in the body. |
