Stages of Malignant Mesothelioma

Once malignant mesothelioma has been diagnosed, more tests will be done to find out if cancer cells have metastized (spread to other parts of the body). This is called staging.

Your doctor needs to know the stage of cancer in order to plan a course of treatment.  The following lists the different stages for malignant mesothelioma.

Localized Malignant Mesothelioma
Stage I: The cancer is found in the lining of the chest cavity near the lung and heart or in the diaphragm or the lung.

Advanced Malignant Mesothelioma
Stage II: The cancer has spread beyond the lining of the chest to lymph nodes in the chest.
Stage III: Cancer has spread into the chest wall, center of the chest, heart, through the diaphragm, or abdominal lining, and in some cases into nearby lymph nodes.
Stage IV: Cancer has spread to distant organs or tissues.

Recurrent Malignant Mesothelioma
Recurrent disease means that the cancer has come back (recurred) after it has been treated. It may come back in the lining of the chest or abdomen or in another part of the body.