Stages of Mesothelioma

There are different stages of mesothelioma.  After being diagnosed with mesothelioma, your physician should do a very detailed, thorough medical examination that will determine what stage of mesothelioma you are in to ascertain how far it has advanced. 

Since the symptoms of mesothelioma are very similar to other more common health conditions, mesothelioma is usually not detected until it has advanced to a dangerous stage.  Your physician will determine which of the stages of mesothelioma you are in based on x-rays, CT scans, and MRI’s.

There are two different staging systems that are used for defining the stages of mesothelioma.  They are the Butchart Staging System and the TNM Staging System.

Butchart Staging System

The Butchart Staging System is the most common and includes four stages.  The following is a brief explanation of each of these four stages of mesothelioma as defined by the Butchart Staging System.

Stage I Mesothelioma

Means that the mesothelioma has infected the left or right side of the membrane that lines the lungs.  This stage also may mean that the mesothelioma is in the membrane sac that covers the heart, the lung, or the diaphragm on the same side.

Stage II Mesothelioma

Occurs when the mesothelioma has spread to other areas of the body.

Stage III Mesothelioma

Connotes the fact that the mesothelioma has now entered the diaphragm to the lining of the abdomen.

Stage IV Mesothelioma

The final stage, where the cells have been able to enter the bloodstream, allowing the spread of the disease to other organs in the body.

TNM Staging System

This less common staging system uses an acronym that refers to specific medical terms.   The “T” refers to the tumor size that may have spread to nearby organs. The node or “N” refers to the mesothelioma affecting or not affecting the lymph nodes. The “M” or metastasis refers to the mesothelioma’s spread to organs further away.  This system also has four stages and is similar to the Butchart staging system.

Regardless of what stage of mesothelioma you are in, it is important to determine what the stage is so you can begin to think and plan your treatment options.  Talk to your physician and be open about what you are feeling.  This can be an overwhelming situation.  Understand that there are support groups available for you and your loved ones.

Take this time to also learn more about your legal rights.  It is important for all mesothelioma patients to understand what their legal options are.  Contact an attorney that has experience with asbestos law.  An attorney can help with making the right steps.  Do not wait or hesitate.  Contact an attorney today for a free consultation.