Mesothelioma is a sort of lung cancer that’s caused exclusively by exposure to asbestos. Doctors typically divide the progression of cancer into four stages based on how far the carcinoma has spread. The 4 mesothelioma stages are as follows :
Stage I
In Stage I, the mesothelioma is confined to one side of the body. At this point, it is sometimes limited to the pleura. The two pleura form a membrane that surrounds the lung, and are divided by a layer of lubricating fluid. Mesothelioma in the pleura causes them to make more of this fluid than they need .
On rare occasions, Stage I mesothelioma may involve the lung itself, the pericardium ( the membrane that surrounds the heart ), or the diaphragm ( the muscle that separates the abdomen from the chest ).
Stage II
In stage II, the mesothelioma has spread. It now involves the chest wall, the esophagus ( which connects the mouth to the gut ), or the heart. It may affect the pleura on either side of the body. It might also affect the chest’s lymph nodes ( part of the immune system that works to filter out foreign particles ).
Stage III
In stage III, the mesothelioma has spread further. It is now outside the diaphragm and in the peritoneum ( the membrane that surrounds the abdominal cavity ). It could also affect lymph nodes outside the chest.
Stage IV
In the last of the mesothelioma stages, the malignancy has gone thru metastasis, that is, it has gone through the blood vessels to spread to the organs far away from the chest and stomach.
Symptoms caused by mesothelioma depend on where it has spread to. If it is limited to a lung ( as is characteristic of early mesothelioma stages ), it can cause dry coughing and loss of breath. If it has spread to the peritoneum, it can cause fever, swelling, and bowel or urinary issues. In the final stages, it may cause trouble swallowing, sudden weight loss, or vomiting blood.swallowing, sudden weight loss, or vomiting blood.
*Please note: Information in this article is provided for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. You should consult a physician in all matters relating to your health.
Article By John Black