Mesothelioma Attorney
Stages of Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma, like many forms of cancer, has different stages that it goes through. Unfortunately, there are several types of mesothelioma, but only one of them has a staging system. This is because pleural mesothelioma is the most common form, and therefore the most researched.
The staging system is used to see how far along the cancer has progressed. This is done through imaging studies such as CT scans, x-rays and MRI scans. Having mesothelioma diagnosed in an earlier stage generally helps the patient’s prognosis.
There are actually two different staging charts used for pleural mesothelioma. The original Butchart system is based on the size of the tumor mass. This goes through four stages:
- I: Mesothelioma presents in one side of the pleura, and may also involve organs in the chest cavity.
- II: Mesothelioma spreads to the chest wall, esophagus, heart, or both sides of the pleura.
- III: Mesothelioma spreads through the diaphragm and into the abdomen.
- IV: Mesothelioma metastasizes into the bloodstream and other organs.
The newer staging system is based off of other cancer staging systems. It is called the TNM system for tumor, lymph nodes and metastasis. This is very similar to the Butchart system except that it combines these three factors to determine the stage rather than concentrating on only the tumor.
A Mesothelioma Lawyer Can Help
Mesothelioma is a very difficult cancer to live with. If you would like more information, your doctor can explain the different stages and systems. You should also contact a mesothelioma attorney of Williams Kherkher at 800-781-3955.
