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Although cancer cells have not spread far by Stage 2 mesothelioma, they have started to enter nearby lymph nodes.

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Stage 2
Mesothelioma Stages

Stage 2 Mesothelioma

Although cancer cells have not spread far by Stage 2 mesothelioma, they have started to enter nearby lymph nodes. Despite potential spreading, the prognosis may still be favorable as numerous treatments are available to extend life expectancy. At this stage, some patients have a two-year survival rate of about 38 percent.

Stage 2 tumors have formed in the protective tissue lining the lungs known as pleura. It is possible the cancer has grown into the lung itself or into the diaphragm – the breathing muscle located below the lungs.

The primary difference between Stage 1 and Stage 2 pleural mesothelioma involves the spreading of cancer cells into the lymph nodes near the main tumor site.

The collection of filters that clear the bloodstream of germs is known as lymph nodes. Cancer cells can spread into the bloodstream and throughout the body once the lymphatic system is reached.

The case is considered Stage 2 (or higher) once the mesothelioma cells have spread to the lymph nodes – regardless of whether the tumor grows are considerably small.

Peritoneal mesothelioma does not have a formal staging system. It is defined by doctors as Stage 2 if there is some lymph node involvement and local tumor growth.

Patients may benefit from multimodal therapy, so long as their health is strong enough to undergo an aggressive treatment plan.

Multimodal therapy includes a combination of radiation therapy and chemotherapy with tumor-removing surgery. This combination is considered to be the “gold standard” for mesothelioma treatment to date. Due to the success of the therapy, many patients have lived years beyond the average prognosis.

Numerous experimental therapies with promising results are often available to early-stage patients as well.

Mesothelioma Stages

Stage 2 Mesothelioma Facts

  • No major symptoms typically occur
  • Chemotherapy and radiation therapy are often used to support surgery.
  • Survival rate for two years is about 38 percent.
  • Tumor removal surgery for eligible patients
Stage 2 Mesothelioma Facts
What is Mesothelioma?

Early Signs of Mesothelioma

Stage 2 mesothelioma does not cause symptoms in most cases.

Symptoms that do arise are commonly mistaken as signs of phenomena or the flu. The discomfort is in relation to the growth of the tumor or constriction of the lung due to buildup of fluid in the pleura (known as pleural effusion).

Symptoms of Stage 2 mesothelioma:

  • Fever
  • Chronic coughing
  • Chest pain
  • Difficulty breathing

Although cancer screenings can detect cases of Stage 2, doctors generally discover Stage 2 cases accidentally while checking a patient’s chest through screenings for an unrelated purpose.

As a result of mesotheliomas long latency period, it may take decades before cancer begins to develop. Once development begins, growth is quick – with minimal to no signs of symptoms until Stage 3 or 4. Diagnosis of most mesothelioma cases are commonly declared after the cancer has advanced beyond Stage 2.

What is Mesothelioma?

Types of Malignant Mesothelioma

Pleural mesothelioma arises in the membrane which surrounds the lung, called the pleura. Pleural mesothelioma is the most common form of this deadly cancer.

Peritoneal mesothelioma develops in the lining of the abdominal cavity, called the peritoneum. Peritoneal mesothelioma is less common but is more often found in women than in men.

Pericardial mesothelioma originates in the pericardium, which lines the heart.

Defining Stage 2 Mesothelioma
What is Mesothelioma?

Defining Stage 2 Mesothelioma

Three staging systems have been developed by doctors for pleural mesothelioma; some of which define Stage 2 differently.

TNM Staging System: Mesothelioma may have started to spread into the tissue (in the diaphragm or lung) as the pleura is on one side of the chest. Although the cancer has not yet reached distant sites, it has begun to spread to nearby lymph nodes.

Brigham Staging System: While tumors are confined to the lung’s pleural lining, the lymph nodes nearby are cancerous.

Butchart Staging System: Growth of the cancer into the chest wall from the pleura has occurred. Spread of cancer into the diaphragm, lymph nodes of the chest, and organs between the lungs is possible.

Stage Two Mesothelioma

Stage 2 Mesothelioma Treatments

Treatment options for Stage 2 mesothelioma includes chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation therapy.

For early-stage mesothelioma patients, effective treatment options are available – even with minimal lymph node involvement. Experimental trials, such as immunotherapy, are offered through clinical trials.

Surgery

Pleural mesothelioma tumor removal includes two primary surgical options. The first removes diseased tissue from around the lung, while the second removes the lung itself in addition to the tissue removal to eliminate all cancer.

The most suitable option for the patient is dependent on how far the cancer has spread and how much surgery the patient’s body can handle. The patient’s medical team will assist in creating a treatment plan.

Chemotherapy

The most common chemotherapy drugs for Mesothelioma are Alimta and Cisplatin.

Drugs may be provided by a patient’s doctor in hope to shrink tumors prior to surgery or to exterminate remaining cancer cells following surgery. If a patient is not eligible for surgery, they may benefit from chemotherapy as a solo treatment.

Radiation Therapy

Radiation may also be used to reduce tumor size prior to surgery or to prevent local recurrence following surgery.

Clinical Trials

Experimental drugs and therapies, not yet approved for mainstream use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, are tested during these voluntary research studies. Such trials test gene therapy, immunotherapy, and/or novel combinations of chemotherapy drugs.

Many early-stage patients qualify for mesothelioma clinical trials, so long as they are in otherwise good health.

Mesothelioma Stages

Curability of Stage 2 Mesothelioma

Unfortunately, for any stage of mesothelioma, there is no cure – although treatments and therapies can assist in controlling the cancer to help increase the life expectancy of a patient.

Pleural mesothelioma is an aggressive disease, and in previous years, many patients have not survived longer than two years. However, the prognosis for Stage 2, compared to later stages, is favorable.

In hope of discovering a way to control and conquer mesothelioma, doctors and researchers are working every day to test new drugs and develop new treatment strategies. Additionally, providing support to patients to eventually manage their illness as a chronic disease, rather a terminal illness, is another goal of medical professionals.

Curability of Stage 2 Mesothelioma
The Life Expectancy for Stage 2 Mesothelioma
What is Mesothelioma?

The Life Expectancy for Stage 2 Mesothelioma

The percentages of patients at Stage 2 that live longer than two-years is 38 percent.

Based on the statistics from thousands of patients diagnosed at Stage 2 – researchers have calculated the percentage of recent-year patients that have survived for at least two years (38 percent) and at least five years (10 percent).

The seriousness of this diagnosis is depicted by these survival rates. Two important factors must be kept in mind – every patient is different, and technology has continued to advance since the collection of these statistics. These rates can act as a general idea of what patients may expect from an individual diagnosis in the present, as they only explain what a large group of patients had experienced in the past.

The cancer cell type, physical fitness level, and patient’s age are all dependable factors that could affect the life expectancy of a patient with Stage 2 mesothelioma.

What is Mesothelioma?

Common Mesothelioma Stages

Mesothelioma Staging demands a variety of diagnostic examinations to identify the tumor area, overall size, and whether it has spread beyond the immediate location. The four stages of pleural mesothelioma cancer vary marginally within each system, but they could be generalized as suggested below. Please click into the individual pages to get more information about each stage. So when the question, “What is Mesothelioma?” is asked, there are a few stages that it could be answered in, the following are the known stages of mesothelioma.

Stage
1

Within Stage 1, the mesothelioma tumor is generally in one location, and the cancerous cells have not dispersed to lymph nodes or other body organs and tissues. In general, surgical treatment may be an option for eliminating the cancerous growth.

 

 

Stage
2

Within Stage 2, the mesothelioma tumor is larger and has probably intruded on surrounding organs, such as the lung or even diaphragm. Lymph nodes could additionally be included. In this case, surgical reapportion might still be feasible, however much more difficult depending on the scope of the growth.

 

Stage
3

Within Stage 3, mesothelioma cancer has infested a region or perhaps location, like the chest wall, esophagus or lymph nodes. Surgical treatment is typically not an option as a curative therapy, however various other treatment options may be attempted.

 

Stage
4

Within Stage 4, the mesothelioma has dispersed to numerous locations, such as various other organs and tissues throughout the body. Surgical treatment is no longer an alternative, and most treatments at this stage concentrate on minimizing discomfort and pain.