Stage 4 Mesothelioma

In order to evaluate the extent and nature of any kind of cancer, including mesothelioma cancer, oncologists use a rubric or “staging” system. This is only one of the benchmarks used to classify malignancies. Additional criteria include the location of the tumor and identification of mesothelioma cell types.

 

Staging assists mesothelioma doctors in determining how far the asbestos cancer has advanced and what mesothelioma treatment would be appropriate for the patient’s malignancy.

Although there are three distinct staging systems currently in use, all three are based on four primary stages relative to the assessment of the tumor:

• The tumor in stage 1 mesothelioma is confined to one organ or region and is relatively small.

• The tumor in stage 2 mesothelioma has grown in size, and has spread to one other tissue.

• The tumor in stage 3 mesothelioma has spread to adjacent areas.

• The tumor in stage 4 mesothelioma has spread to distant areas of the body, or “metastasized.”

In Stage 4, the cancer has spread throughout the body and the anticipated mesothelioma life expectancy is not long.

Stage 4 Mesothelioma Prognosis

By Stage 4, the mesothelioma prognosis is identified as terminal, and the patient has less than a year to live in most cases. At this point, doctors focus on quality of life issues, offering palliative treatments that can at the very least reduce patient discomfort and pain.

What are the Common Treatments for Stage 4 Mesothelioma?

Surgery / Radiation / Chemotherapy

Conventional multimodal treatment plans that combine surgery, radiation and chemotherapy are not typically used for Stage 4 Mesothelioma patients. They are, however, sometimes used for pain management reasons.

Surgery may remove the primary tumor, but it does not guarantee relief from further metastasizing or reoccurrence.

With pleural mesothelioma, surgery may remove the primary tumor to ease pressure on the lungs and improve breathing. Similarly, surgery for pericardial and peritoneal mesothelioma may reduce pressure on the heart and abdomen and provide pain relief.

Chemotherapy may lessen pain for some patients, but at this advanced stage of mesothelioma, there are considerable risks. In some cases, after removing the primary tumor, chemotherapy may help slow metastasizing.