Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that affects the thin protective membrane covering the body's most important organs. These include the heart, lungs, and abdomen. There are four classifications of mesothelioma depending on the part the tumor is located namely:
- Pleural (lung Lining)
- Peritoneal (Abdominal Lining)
- Pericardial (heart Sac)
- Testicular
During diagnosis, doctors have to determine the progression of the cancer. This process is known as mesothelioma staging—there are 4 stages. Additionally, you may hear doctors mention metastasis. This means the tumor has grown and spread to other organs.
Also, it is imperative to understand that different stages have different treatment approaches.
In this regard, let's take an in-depth dive into mesothelioma stages and treatment tailored for each phase.
Stage 1 Mesothelioma
In this stage, tumor growth is within a single area. This is one of the mesothelioma stages where prognosis and life expectancy are much better than other phases. In most cases, the cancer is not detected at this stage because most people don't experience any symptoms.
Symptoms
The tumors are small in this phase and rarely cause pain. More importantly, people with stage 1 mesothelioma cancer don't experience difficulty in breathing. This is a signature symptom of the disease.
Treatment
The methods used to treat stage 1 mesothelioma cancer include radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and surgery. Thus, the first cause of action in this stage involves conducting surgery to attempt to remove the tumor.
If it fails, doctors proceed to radiotherapy a process that involves focusing beams of intense energy on the tumor in an attempt to kill it.
The last resort involves the use of chemotherapy where doctors use drugs like cytotoxic and to treat the disease.
Life Expectancy
The median life expectancy for a patient diagnosed with this condition is 22.2 months with surgery. Remember, this is one of the mesothelioma stages where patients have the highest chances of recovery.
Stage 2 Mesothelioma
At this stage, the tumor begins to spread beyond the mesothelial lining. The malignant growth shifts from its origin and affects the nearby lymph nodes also known as NI lymph nodes.
However, the tumors are still small at this phase and are removable with surgery.
Symptoms
In this mesothelioma stage, the individual begins to experience symptoms. Patients experience difficulty in breathing or mild cough during strenuous activities.
The symptoms usually resemble those of common cold. In rare cases, patients may feel bloated and start to lose weight.
Treatment
Just like in stage 1 mesothelioma, in this phase, the mode of treatment is surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy in that order. Remember, sometimes a doctor may combine more than one different method.
Life Expectancy
The median life expectancy in this phase is 20 months with surgery. However, those who respond to the treatment modes listed above may live to somewhere between 3 and 5 years.
Stage 3 Mesothelioma
In this stage, cancer spreads to lymph nodes and several tissues within the region of the body it began. This is one of the mesothelioma stages where only a few patients qualify for surgery.
Symptoms
Patients experience difficulty in breathing, chest pain, wheezing, and dry cough, which are part of pleural symptoms. Furthermore, in peritoneal mesothelioma symptoms, they experience diarrhea, bloating, and abdominal pains. Also, weight loss, night sweats, and fever are prevalent symptoms in stage 3.
Treatments
Since most of the patients in this stage are ineligible for surgery the condition is treated using the chemotherapy method. Patients experience a lot of pain in stage 3 and doctors integrate other palliative options for pain control.
Also, stage 3 patients are eligible to participate in clinical trials to try new chemotherapy drugs.
Life Expectancy
Median life expectancy is 17.9 months with treatment. If stage 3 patients can qualify for surgery they can live up to 3 years.
Stage 4 Mesothelioma
This the final of the mesothelioma stages where cancer spreads throughout its point of origin and probably other areas in the body. Surgery is not possible and it is the most advanced stage.
Symptoms
In pleural mesothelioma, patients experience trouble in swallowing, difficulty in breathing, and severe chest pain.
The peritoneal symptoms include swelling of the abdomen, difficulty in breathing, bowel obstruction, and constant digestive problems.
Additionally, patients at this stage exhibit weight loss, fever, night sweats, fatigue, muscle weakness, nerve pain, and loss of appetite.
Treatment
Patients in stage 4 receive aggressive chemotherapy treatment. As well as palliative care to extend survival, control symptoms, and manage pain. Also, the patients at this stage are eligible for clinical trials where they participate in chemotherapy and immunotherapy drug testing.
Life Expectancy
The median life expectancy in this phase is 14.9 months.
Before you Leave
In conclusion, as you can see, mesothelioma is a dangerous disease that requires proactive actions to combat it. It is, therefore, vital to conduct regular screening to detect the condition in less severe early stages. More importantly, if you are in one of the above mesothelioma stages and treatment, you may consider palliative options like the use of Chemo Relief to ease nausea.
Remember, it's better to be safe than sorry.
For more information on mesothelioma cancer, contact us.
