When diagnosing patients with mesothelioma, doctors need to determine the severity of the disease in order to continue with the best treatment options. To do this, they have to divide the disease into phases. The stages of mesothelioma also help physicians determine the progression of the disease, and it helps them to determine the patient's prognosis. Physicians currently use three different mesothelioma staging systems to diagnose and treat pleural mesothelioma.
Each system measures several variables, including the size of the cancer, lymph node involvement, metastasis, and more. When assessing mesothelioma stages, the lower the stage, the less severe the disease. Persons with more severe mesotheliomas are placed in the higher stages, for example, in phase III or phase IV. The later stages are also when mesothelioma metastases usually occurs.
1. The Butchart system
The butchart system is the oldest and most widely used mesothelioma cancer staging system. The measurement of mesothelioma stages is mainly based on the size of the tumor mass. Butchart system divides mesothelioma into four phases:
- Stage I - Mesothelioma Cancer is seen in the right or left side of the chest or thoracic cavity and is also found in the diaphragm.
- Stage II - Mesothelioma cancer has invaded the chest wall and reaches the esophagus, heart or pleura on both sides. Lymph nodes can also be affected.
- Stage III - Mesothelioma cancer has passed the diaphragm and into the abdominal cavity or peritoneum. Lymph nodes behind the breast can also be affected.
- Stage IV - Mesothelioma cancer has spread to other organs via the bloodstream. At this stage, it is metastatic mesothelioma.
2. TNM system
TNM system is a newer system used to resolve mesothelioma by taking into account variables such as tumor size and spread, lymph node involvement and metastasis. In the TNM system, the disease is divided into four phases:
- Stage I - Mesothelioma Cancer is located in the right or left thoracic cavity and may have spread to the pericardium, diaphragm, or lungs on the same side. Lymph nodes are not affected.
- Stage II - Mesothelioma cancer has spread from one side of the breast to a lymph node near the lungs on the same side. The disease may also have spread to the lungs, diaphragm or pericardium on the same side, but in general the cancer remains at the primary site at this stage.
- Stage III - Mesothelioma cancer has the chest wall, muscle, heart, esophagus, ribs, and vital organs in the pleural cavity on the same side. Lymph nodes may or may not be affected on the side of the tumor. True mesothelioma metastasis will have started at this stage.
- Stage IV - At this stage, mesothelioma cancer has spread to the lymph nodes in the chest area on the other side of the tumor, into the pleural cavity or lungs on the other side; or it has reached organs in the abdomen or neck.
3. The Brigham system
The Brigham System is the latest stent system for mesothelioma cancer and is based on resectability of the tumor and lymph node status. The Brigham system is divided into four phases. The four mesothelioma stages measured with this system are:
- Stage I - Mesothelioma cancer is resectable and lymph nodes are not involved.
- Stage II - Mesothelioma cancer is resectable, but lymph nodes are involved.
- Stage III - Mesothelioma Cancer is not resectable and has spread to the chest wall, diaphragm, heart or abdominal area. Lymph nodes may or may not be involved.
- Stage IV - metastatic mesothelioma of cancer.
Regardless of whether you have an early stage or metastatic mesothelioma, you must understand your rights as a victim of asbestos. Contact us here at Mesothelioma Treatment Centers to arrange a consultation with a lawyer who has experience with asbestos and mesothelioma. A lawyer can help you and your family explore the legal opportunities available to you. See our excellent guide to the various stages of cancer. [*]
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