Mesothelioma Stages And Prognosis Explained

Mesothelioma is a deadly set of types of cancer caused by asbestos exposure. Unfortunately, all of the current prognosis information is extremely poor. If you are in danger of contracting mesothelioma, it is important to know the types, stages, and overall prognosis of this cancer.

Types Of Mesothelioma

There are four basic types of mesothelioma. Pleural mesothelioma which forms in the lungs and makes up the majority of these cancer cases. Peritoneal or abdominal mesothelioma which forms in the abdomen and is the second most prevalent. Pericardial mesothelioma forms on the lining of the heart, and testicular Mesothelioma forms on the testes and is the rarest type.

Stages Of Mesothelioma

Like most cancers, mesothelioma has four stages. These stages represent the progression of the disease. Stage one has almost no symptoms, and there are small tumors evident. In stage two the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes, and the small tumors may be removable with one or more surgeries and chemotherapy along with radiation therapy.

During stage three, the cancer is considerably more deadly and dangerous. The cancer has spread throughout the other organs and distant lymph nodes. After stage four begins, mesothelioma is inoperable, and radiation and chemotherapy might reduce the symptoms. Stage three and stage four mesothelioma is normally deadly.

Overall Prognosis Of Mesothelioma

The overall prognosis for people suffering from this aggressive type of cancer is very poor. It spreads rapidly and goes through the stages quickly. Most of the time, it is not diagnosed until after stage three has started. For the majority of those diagnosed with mesothelioma, life expectancy is one to two years. Of course, this depends on age, overall health, and environmental factors.

The prognosis can be improved slightly by improving your diet and routine exercise. Complementary therapies such as acupuncture and meditation may also improve the prognosis, but there is still only a 5% survivability rate in its worst forms and later stages.

The horror of mesothelioma is that it is almost never caught early and is entirely preventable. If you do not expose yourself to asbestos dust, you will not get it. Mesothelioma is exclusively associated with this dust. In recent years, grants and settlements have been set up to help with treatment and help your families deal with the disease. If you have any symptoms or signs of it, you should seek medical attention immediately. This type of cancer spreads too quickly for you to take any chances.